AID workers taking medical supplies from York to Gaza have survived violent scenes at a Middle Eastern port to reach their destination ten days behind schedule.

Heather and Steve Stroud and Mike Gwilliam, all from North Yorkshire, made the journey in an old NHS ambulance as part of a large convoy from the UK.

They passed through ten countries, including France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria and Jordan, to reach the Palestinian area of Gaza at about 5.30pm GMT on Wednesday.

But the team was almost forced to abandon its journey at the port of Aqaba in Jordan, where the Egyptian government initially refused them permission to enter its territory and progress to Gaza.

According to reports, ten members of the 59-vehicle convoy were injured following clashes with Egyptian police during a protest against the decision.

Carol Pearman, of the York branch of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said: “Our members weren’t involved in the protest, but they helped to bandage up some other members of the convoy because the Egyptian Police had hurled rocks and stones at them. It has been an ordeal, but now that they have reached Gaza, it has all been forgotten because they are so happy.

“Mike’s wife, Janice, spoke to him last night and she said he was in tears on the phone – tears of joy and relief.

“I spoke to Heather who said there were people throwing carnations on to the top of the ambulance. They are absolutely exhausted, but also really excited.”

She said the York contingent was due to hand over its ambulance and medical supplies to the Red Crescent charity in Gaza yesterday before flying back to England.

Internet users have been able to follow the progress of the York ambulance by reading the volunteers’ tweets at twitter.com/yorktogaza

The team also has a regularly updated blog at yorktogaza.blogspot.com