A MARLOW-based charity for abandoned children in Romania has sent out an urgent appeal for essential goods to help fill a lorry travelling to the poverty-stricken country.

A MARLOW-based charity for abandoned children in Romania has sent out an urgent appeal for essential goods to help fill a lorry travelling to the poverty-stricken country.

Street Children Aid Pro Deo will send out a truck at the beginning of October laden with furniture and food bound for two shelters.

Mary Blow, who lives in Glade Road, Marlow, gave up her job as a health visitor to concentrate on the charity, which she set up.

Mrs Blow, 54, who first visited the eastern European country in 1996, said: 'We must not forget about Romania just because it is not in the headlines. In many ways things are as bad as they were ten years ago.'

On her first visit, Mrs Blow was struck by the grinding poverty suffered by the population, especially children.

Mrs Blow added: 'Once I waited at the top of a sewer with a broken cover and then watched children climbing out of it and saw them carry bread and scrap bits of food back down. Seeing the children going through the rubbish tips looking for food is not unusual.'

The aid will be sent out to two homes, one in Bucharest which houses 31 children, and one in Neudorf which houses 15 and is extending into a nearby town to help up 15 more.

The appeal is very specific and asks for automatic washing powder, black bin-liners, household cleaning materials, dried foods including rice, pasta, flower, sugar, oil and pulses.

The charity makes a point of saying no to toys.

She added: 'You can't eat toys. We prefer to send them the necessities of living.'

Donations, including cash, can be taken to 65 Glade Road, or call (01628) 890840 by September 23