The devastation wrought by the war in Ukraine has prompted a retiring councillor to fundraise for two much-needed ambulances - which he intends to help drive there himself.

Weaver and Cuddington councillor Paul Williams and his fellow fundraisers want to buy two second hand ambulances and drive them to the Polish/Ukrainian border, after attacks on the country's health infrastructure left its resources seriously depleted.

More than 700 attacks on hospitals, health workers, and other medical infrastructure in Ukraine have been reported in the year since the Russian invasion began, according to an investigation by human rights groups.

Over that period, there were 292 attacks that damaged or destroyed 218 hospitals and clinics, 181 attacks on other health infrastructure such as pharmacies, blood centres, and dental clinics, and 65 attacks on ambulances. There were also 86 attacks on healthcare workers - with 62 killed and 52 injured.

The Conservative councillor plans to step down from Cheshire West and Chester Council at this May’s local elections and intends to take the daunting road journey in June. He says he was partly inspired by some of the harrowing stories shared with him by his family doctor and that he could no longer just 'sit there and do nothing'.

He said: “My GP is Ukrainian. She is over here with her young daughter and her mother.

"She has already raised a significant amount of money on her own. She has also provided me with a great deal of first-hand information and I can’t just sit here and do nothing."

More than 10 years ago he also helped to raise money to bring the very first Ukrainian company to list on the London Stock Exchange.

He added: “I was a non-executive director, and all our board meetings were held in Kiev. As a result, I got to know a fair number of people over there.”

Cllr Williams’s wife Paula will act as relief driver and navigator.  He is also fundraising with his daughter’s father-in-law Grant Edwards, who along with his wife will be driving the second ambulance.

Altogether, they want to raise £30,000, with the intention of leaving for the border in June. The journey will see them leave for Hook of Holland, down through Germany and Poland and finally to the handover on the Polish/Ukrainian border.

Prior to departure, the vehicles will be serviced and will have a pack of spares onboard.

He added: “Second hand ambulances are easily available to purchase. Most are 3.0L diesel with about 150k miles on them and they will have been serviced regularly.

“We will see precisely what is needed, but the aim is to take a team of three in each vehicle, which will be loaded with medical spares, such as wound dressings and any items that civilians need, such as portable stoves, clothing and blankets.”

The fundraising team have set up a JustGiving page on the British Ukrainian Aid website which can be found by clicking here.