FROM Above Bar to Kandahar. That's the 8,000-mile trip one intrepid charity worker from Southampton has made to help some of the world's poorest people.

Gareth Price-Jones has swapped life sorting out clothes, books and bric-a-brac in the city's Oxfam shops for life in war-torn Afghanistan.

He's spearheading a major urban development and public health programme in Kandahar City to help 50,000 people enjoy better access to drinking water and learn about basic hygiene.

Life could not be more different for the 29-year-old who now sees bomb attacks most weeks.

He also has to make sure his staff can be evacuated to a secure bunker within 15 to 30 minutes of a security alert.

Speaking from Kandahar, Gareth said: "My parents think I am mad but they're also proud of me."

There's only one thing he misses from where he used to live in Shirley - going down the pub for a pint.

"I hope to come home about three times a year and will go out with my mates then," he said.

Gareth described the working environment as "extremely challenging".

"We have regular security incidents including suicide car bombs. For example, our office was bombed.

"As the senior manager in the office I had to ignore my own shock and ensure that all our staff were safe and had been accounted for.

"Luckily we did not suffer any injuries and were able to continue our programmes and keep everyone well motivated."

Gareth, who is in charge of 230 national and inter-national staff, must also get used to Afghanistan's three main languages and two alphabets.

And when a woman is considered for a job, the whole family has to be convinced that it is the right move.

Gareth, who has worked for Oxfam for the past eight years, is no stranger to travelling the world having also spent time in Kosovo and Sierra Leone too.

He started working as a volunteer in his local charity shop after completing a Business and Law degree at Southampton Institute in 1995.

He went on to manage Oxfam's shops in Southampton.

"It's exhausting and a real challenge, but it's very rewarding and you get to see the world as it really is."