Two Bradford men taking part in an aid mission to Cuba have managed to get the vital medical equipment safely into the country.

But they have condemned the seizure of two trucks from another, smaller convoy and the arrest of two convoy members.

Simon Watson and Daniel Werges joined seven other European participants in the Pastors for Peace campaign in issuing a joint statement condemning the actions of United States officials and police.

Pastors for Peace is an annual mercy mission which challenges the US Government's blockade on Cuba by carrying aid across the Canadian and Mexican borders without a licence.

Mr Watson, who is studying Peace Studies at Bradford University, and Mr Werges, who works for the Independent Living Project in Keighley, are upset that their, much larger convoy - made up of 95 participants - and their vehicles carrying tonnes of aid crossed the border from Texas into Mexico without incident while a smaller group was stopped.

The pair raised £2,500 through charity events in Bradford organised by the Bradford Cuba Solidarity Group to buy a second hand ambulance to take and deliver to Cuba, which is short of essential equipment.

Mr Watson, 28, and Mr Werges, 26, exclusively revealed to the Telegraph & Argus in May how they could face ten-year jail sentences or $250,000 fines if they were caught attempting to break the US trade embargo of Cuba, which has been in place for 40 years.

The two Bradford aid volunteers and the main convoy are now safely in Cuba.

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