Aid worker Geoff Robinson was last night braving gun-toting Serbian paramilitaries as he took a convoy into war-torn Kosovo.

The retired Bradford Council employee and fellow volunteers took a week to arrive in the Kosovan capital of Pristina.

And last night they were hoping to cover the final hazardous 30km to their destination of Mitrovica.

"Nothing quite prepared me for Kosovo," said Mr Robinson.

"The atmosphere in Pristina is similar to what I imagine it was like in Nazi Germany. On the main roads there are many heavily armed police who constantly stop and question the drivers.

"Ethnic Albanians are questioned at random and their vehicles searched. At night most people get off the streets at 8pm."

The volunteers have already dropped off in Pristina a truckload of aid which was gathered by the Kosovan community in London. The main load of aid, collected by the Bosnian Miners' Union in Tuzla, is destined for the mining town of Mitrovica.

The convoy, which consists of three vehicles including Mr Robinson's own car, has run into delays en route and the main lorry was held up for several days on the Croatian/Serbian border.

Bob Myers, of Workers' Aid, which helped to organise the convoy, said the last 30km to Mitrovica were the most dangerous part of the journey because the road was under the control of Serbian paramilitaries and cars were being searched by armed civilians.

Mr Robinson said: "On our first night we heard gunfire twice. On the second night the gunfire was heavier and there have been constant movements of military aircraft.

"I do not feel personally at any risk but worry a great deal about out guides who have to travel at night after we have been taken to our respective houses."

Organisations in Bradford including mosques and Asian businesses raised £1,500 for the convoy.

Contributions can be made to the Bradford TUC, Bradford Resource Centre, 17-21 Chapel Street, Little Germany, Bradford or the Racial Equality Council, Oak Lane, Bradford. Cheques should be made payable to BTUC (Kosovo).

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