AN East Devon charity worker has praised the tremendous impact a donation from Ottery s United Reformed Church will have in improving the lives of Romanian orphans.

AN East Devon charity worker has praised the "tremendous" impact a donation from Ottery's United Reformed Church will have in improving the lives of Romanian orphans.

The church raised more than £200 and collected other gifts as part of its Harvest Festival celebrations which brothers John and Dave Sumner, from Exeter, drove out to the Haven of Hope Orphanage in Lipova earlier this month.

John, 57, who got back from the 3,200 mile, five-day round journey at 4am on Tuesday, was full of praise for the donation.

He said: "The kids were so excited when we got there, the look on some of their faces, they were so happy. Ottery was one of 11 churches which donated harvest goods like pastas, rice and cornflakes and also clothes and toys. The contribution is tremendous, had churches like Ottery not donated, we would have not had anything to take there with us."

Mr Sumner, who has been visiting Romania since 1990, will speak at a service in the Ottery URC when it marks Suffering Church Sunday on November 23.