The highest-ranking member of the Kosovan Aid Committee, who has been leading relief convoys to the war-torn country, is to visit Keighley next week to thank people for their generosity.

President of the KAC Agron Loxha, who escaped Kosovo two years ago, has been helping the Cambridge-based Friendship Link deliver the aid to northern Albania.

A lorry load of blankets, tents and waterproof clothing, donated by Keighley folk, is due to leave Cambridge in the next consignment.

Aid has flooded into the Keighley Disabled People's Centre in Temple Row, Keighley, after centre advice officer Keith Bell appealed for help.

He is a member of Friendship Link and has been involved in helping disabled people in Albania since the mid-1990s.

Leslie Wooler, founder of Friendship Link, said: "Mr Loxha is to travel to Keighley on April 22 to meet local people and to speak at Keighley mosque. He will thank people for raising funds and tell them how successful we have been in getting aid out there.

"We have been working flat out and I had just an hour's sleep last night. We are managing but we're all very tired. People are helping as much as they can at all hours of the day and in their lunch hours."

The cost of each 3,500-mile round trip is £1,200 and in the last two weeks five lorries have travelled from Cambridge loaded with aid.

The latest batch, which left yesterday, carried blankets, food and medical equipment.

Mr Bell said: "The response from Keighley has been marvellous - it's typical of Keighley people who are always generous."

The Friendship Link is based at St Andrew's House, St Andrew's Street, Cambridge, CB2 3B2 telephone 01223 360575.

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