A couple who have helped run a Romanian orphanage for eight years have appealed for backing from companies and individuals in Bradford.

School caretaker Peter Haddlesey and his wife Maureen hope to raise at least £10,000 and collect food, medicines and clothes for an aid convoy to the orphanage they 'adopted' in 1992.

The pair, who founded the Orphan Aid Association charity after witnessing the conditions orphans were living in, say they are one of the few foreign charities still helping Romanian orphans.

They fear if they stop sending aid to their orphanage in the town of Baia-Mare some of its 180 children will start dying from preventable diseases and malnutrition within a year.

Peter, 46, who works at Birkenshaw First School, said: "Romania got a lot of coverage in the media in the early 90s but a lot of the aid has now stopped and living conditions are no better. Children live in sewers and wear rags, you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it.

"With the support of the public and local companies we've managed to make our orphage a much better place for the children but there's no way we could ever stop."

The couple, together with Mirfield couple Elaine and Bob Blackburn and treasurer, Judith Moylan, fundraise to send around three convoys of aid to the orphanage each year.

They hope to recruit new volunteers who will help collect clothes and cash or organise their own sponsorship and money-raising events.

The charity is also seeking premises to keep the aid collected and a mechanic to maintain a converted coach which takes charity members to visit children at the orphanage each year. Children living there range from new-born babies to nine-year olds and had their last aid convoy in December.

Maureen, 42, said: "We've been able to carry on unlike a lot of others because of the continued support from the public.

"We need new people with new ideas about how to keep raising money."

The Romanian Government cut back subsidies and stopped staff wages last year when aid was diverted to help Kosovan refugees who arrived in the country fleeing war in the former Yugoslavia.

Anyone who can help can contact the charity on (01274) 689353 or (01924) 493208.

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