A group of volunteers is hiring a coach to drive to Poland with supplies and return to Kent with Ukrainian refugees.

Their plan is to provide free, safe transport for people who have already arranged to be sponsored or hosted and hold a valid visa.

Director of Anderson Travel, Mark Anderson touring the coach

Malcolm Palmer of New Barn, near Dartford started the Coaches to Ukraine idea. He said: "It seemed to me vans are going out there with supplies and coming back empty. I thought why not go out there with supplies and back full of people.

"We have decided we are going to go and if people have someone that is in Warsaw and needs to get back we can help.

"The worst case scenario is if we do not have enough people, but in that case we will give lifts to them to other parts of Europe that are on our way back."

The 56-seater coach from Anderson Travel will be setting off to Warsaw in Poland on Monday and returning three days later on April 7.

The London-based company will also be providing three drivers for the journey.

Malcolm, 55, said he wanted to help after seeing the suffering of the Ukrainian people and believing the government's response has been "rubbish".

The accountant added: "I am the Live Aid generation. We all have our Bob Geldof moments every now and then and I wanted to do something.

"Lots of people are applying to host and that is a big thing that they are doing."

The coach will be arriving back in the UK at Hartley Country Club in Culvey Close, Longfield on its return from Poland.

David Gould of Wouldham Road, Rochester is also helping organise who will be on the coach. The 75-year-old said: "I have been to Ukraine a number of times and it is a lovely country.

"This is just so sad and I do not think we can just stand by. If you can do something, do it."

The group is seeking people who will have visas and permission to enter the UK by April 7 and have sponsors in the South East. They are unable to bring back any pets.

For further information contact David Gould on journey-to-kent@talktalk.net or 07587 703581.

You can find the group on Facebook here or by searching Coaches to Ukraine.