A RETIRED vet from near York will fly to Pakistan this week on an aid mission to help farmers in flood-stricken parts of the country.

Stuart Easby, 61, who founded Battle Flatts Veterinary Clinic in Stamford Bridge, will travel with Muslim Hands, an international relief organisation.

His aim during the six-week trip is to help farmers keep their livestock alive in the wake of the devastating floods that hit Pakistan this summer.

Mr Easby, who lives near Stamford Bridge, said: “It’s going to be very practical, hands-on work, trying to help make sure that the animals that have survived go on to survive the winter.

“We’ve all seen on the news how farmers have been refusing to leave their animals in the floods – they say ‘without the animals we are dead anyway because they are our life’. It’s terrible.

“The situation in Pakistan is absolutely awful. I’m sitting here looking down on the Vale of York and thinking where would we be if it was under water? It would just be impossible.

“I can’t give anything because I don’t have money, but going out there to try and help is something I can do.”

More than a million livestock have died in the floods, which have affected almost 21 million people, killing more than 1,700.

Mr Easby, who runs a veterinary advice line called One Call Advice Direct Vet, said: “I’m feeling really quite apprehensive. I just hope that I am able to find a way to help.

“If I can keep ten animals alive, I can probably keep 20 people alive.”

The father-of-four is a keen supporter of Safe Haven For Donkeys In the Holy Land – a charity that aims to improve the plight of injured donkeys in Israel and Palestine.

He has made trips to the Middle East to help care for the donkeys and has also spent years fundraising for the cause, even taking part in the Athens Marathon to raise funds.