A 60-year-old NHS volunteer has said he is ready to drive an ambulance to Ukraine to help refugees.

Brian Grove, from Sittingbourne, is planning to drive out to Ukraine and ferry survivors from the bombed out areas to the Polish border.

Brian Grove explains why he wants to help Ukrainian civilians fleeing the country

Mr Grove came across the appeal on a Ukrainian community website, and is now putting all is efforts into finding one.

Failing that, he will try to find a minibus or even a truck.

The 60-year-old, who worked as an animal rescuer in Argentina from 2003 to 2012, said he'd be happy to fight in Ukraine if he was fit enough.

"I'll be quite happy to drive into wherever the Ukrainians say I can be useful and help ferry people out," he added.

Mr Grove doesn't know where his journey will begin, as it depends on where he picks up the vehicle, but he is confident he can drive all the way to Eastern Europe - with a bit of help.

He said: "I've previously driven with a car and a very loaded caravan from the north of England down to the south of Spain, which is a similar distance from here to Ukraine.

"But I certainly wouldn't make it all that way without rest, which obviously means a delay. So, if there's another co-driver that could help, that would be great."

Mr Grove has had the desire to help the Ukrainian people since war began last week.

He said: "It was really just a desire from the beginning of the invasion to do something. Many people who are younger and fitter than I am have wives and families, and it's unfair to expect them to risk everything.

"I don't have a wife and family who depend on me, so it would seem I'm an obvious person to take that risk."

The NHS volunteer will carry on with his quest to find a vehicle to rescue civilians at war, and hopes to help as many people as he can.

He said: "At the very least, every company has a duty under international law, nevermind a moral duty, to help these refugees, regardless of whether they have British connections or not.

"If we were being invaded and bombed out, I would hope another country would help us.

"Sitting in parliament or standing in parliament with rounds of applause, do not help those who are suffering now. I'm not saying necessarily we have to offer long-term residents here. That's something for the future, but right now people need help.

"And I have to say good on the people of Poland. There aren't refugee camps there. They are being taken into people's homes all over the country and welcomed, and that is an example we should be following."