TIRELESS York aid worker Clive Phoenix has departed on another mission of mercy, this time to help children in Bulgaria.

Mr Phoenix, who lives in Haxby and runs the charity WATCH, flew out to Bulgaria yesterday on a two-week trip to get three children's projects up and running.

A container full of furniture and equipment has been shipped out in advance, to be unloaded on his arrival.

The retired soldier, who has been on missions to Bosnia, Albania and Croatia, is concentrating his efforts this time on a refuge for street children, and a home and a school for disabled children.

The three projects are located in the Black Sea resort of Varna, where Mr Phoenix says attitudes towards disabled children are Victorian.

"They think that if someone is born with something wrong with them, they should shove them in a home and forget about them," he said.

"But we are working in conjunction with the Bulgarian Red Cross to improve the situation.

"This is the first time I've been to Bulgaria and I've got mixed feelings because I normally take a truck and stay with all the equipment myself, but this time I'm flying.

"I'm looking forward to it because I always look forward to going on these trips. It's a chance to get amongst real people."

Mr Phoenix has been given furniture and other equipment which will transform the three buildings from empty shells to working centres for the children.

He added: "My particular task will be at the school.

"The building is there and the electrical wiring is there and it's live but there are no fittings, no tables and desks and no blackboards."

Mr Phoenix will be installing these items thanks to generous donations from a variety of sources.

He said: "We've got enough to go a long way. If you give these people a boost they tend to make a lot of it.

"Even in war-torn areas you have people who will stand up and risk a lot to say 'you give us the tools and we'll do the job'. They're there with nothing but the human spirit is so strong that they get up and go again.

"I don't know who gets the most out of it, them or me."

PICTURE:Clive Phoenix: work to set up school