A Sandbach man who went on a mercy mission to the Ukraine border is back home after helping three families to safety.

Brave 52-year-old Phil Cummins flew out to Germany to pick up a mini bus with a work colleague before collecting and driving three families and a cat, to various places in Germany.

The project IT manager from Congleton Road is now back in Sandbach and back at work - but says he is still recovering from the long drive.

Sandbach Nub News told here of Phil's trip to the Ukraine border.

Now back, Phil said: "It was an experience and although it was only seven people, we have helped them. It was a lot of driving and to be honest I am still getting over it.

"It was quite emotional and makes you realise how lucky you are to be able to do the simple things in life like go for a walk and carry on as normal.

"These poor people have had this inflicted on them, something they didn't want. They have left their country and their families but all said it was only a temporary measure and they would be going back."

Phil, who works for PACE-XL, went with a work colleague from Hamburg. As well as transporting families, they also bought £200 worth of SIM cards to give to families at the refugee centre.

"The camp is very well organised," said Phil. "They are managing to get people to other places and they are being well looked after.

Phil and his German work colleague transported three families – a mother and her two daughters, a mother and her son and a mother and her daughter plus a family cat.

"We didn't realise there was a cat. A young girl was carrying it in her rucksack. Fortunately the cat travelled well!"

Phil says other work colleagues at PACE-XL are now doing other things for the cause and Phil's Just Giving page here. is still live.

All the money raised from the page will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee. The link is above if any readers want to donate this this.