A charity worker is gearing up to fly to Albania to help the refugees of the Kosovo crisis.

John Sargent, 44, of Haworth, will fly to the country on Monday.

Mr Sargeant, the campaigns manager for Oxfam in Bradford said he was apprehensive but looking forward to the three-week challenge. He said: "I am actually going to work as a press officer, which is mainly due to the overwhelming coverage from the media. A lot of people want information from the area.

"I am a little apprehensive about going, but I am sure it will be an experience to remember."

Mr Sargent has already received training on what to expect from a tiny country that has already seen 300,000 refugees pour in.

The father-of-two said: "I have been warned to expect to see some harrowing images and been taught how to deal with it.

"I don't know how I will cope with the situation when I have to deal with it face-to-face, but I think I will be okay."

He said Albania was a poor country and was having to deal with thousands of refugees each day as a result of the Balkans conflict.

Mr Sargent, who gained a Peace Studies degree at Bradford University, has been actively involved with Oxfam for six years.

He said the role of Oxfam in the area would include improving water supplies, and emergency aid.

Mr Sargent will leave behind his wife Judith and two young children.

"My children don't know I'm going yet. They are only three-years and 18-months-old so they won't really understand all it entails, but I'm going to tell them at the weekend.''

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.