A Sandbach man is heading off to Hamburg today (Sunday) on a mercy mission to transport families from the Ukraine border to safety.

Brave 52-year-old Phil Cummins is flying out to Germany to pick up a mini bus with a work colleague before driving 12 hours to the border.

Once at the Ukraine/Polish border, Phil will help transport two or more families back to a refugee camp in Hamburg.

The father-of-two is funding the trip himself and says it's the least he can do to help those caught up in the Ukraine crisis.

He said: "We're spending the night in the mini bus on Monday before getting to the border.

"A colleague on a Teams meeting at work talked about a recent rescue operation and my company decided to step in.

"We'll be buying provisions to have on the minibus for bringing the families back and making the journey back to Hamburg as comfortable as possible.

"I am also buying £200 worth of SIM cards to take with me to give to other families so they are able to use their mobiles plus phone chargers."

Phil is an IT project manager with PACE-XL and is flying back to the UK on Wednesday ready for work on Thursday.

He said: "I'm not sure what to expect yet. I am going to do what I can. It's hard to imagine just what these people have gone through.

"One minute they have a home and a life and the next thing it's taken from them through no fault of their own."

Phil, who lives in Congleton Road, has just taken a rucksack with a few clothes and the documents he needs for the trip.

He says friends and colleagues from all over the world and in Sandbach have been so generous.

"I went to the Beer Emporium in Sandbach one night last week and they had had a whip round for the fund for me," said Phil.

"My company has planned all sorts of things to raise money for the Ukraine such as a charity auction night and a sponsored walk. "

But volunteering and fundraising is nothing new for Phil, who is married to a teacher.

He is a volunteer for Insight and mentor a young adult in Middlewich coming out of the care system.

Phil said: "The Ukraine situation is so sad and it's good to be able to do something to help."