THEY'RE off! A record amount of vital aid is on its way to Kosovo - thanks to Daily Echo readers.

More than 700 boxes of life-giving aid collected by the people of Southampton have been packed up and are making their way to the war-torn country.

The incredible donations for the Hope and Aid Direct banana box scheme from people in the city have meant that this year's appeal has prompted one of the biggest responses ever.

Now charity volunteers have packed up and set off in their trucks on the mission of a lifetime.

But the clear message that rang out minutes before their hurried departure was the volunteers' heartfelt thanks to the people of Southampton, who readily got behind their dream to bring hope to the hopeless.

Bernie Sullivan, from Chandler's Ford, said: "We cannot thank the people of Southampton enough.

"We are absolutely delighted and can't wait to get out there and give the aid out. Twice the amount has been collected this year.

"We also want to say a special thank you to the Daily Echo for the amount they raised and for all their help."

Yesterday, Bernie and the two other volunteers from Chandler's Ford, Charles Lewry and Don Wiggins, left the city to meet up with other Hope and Aid Direct volunteers from across the UK in Dover for the two-week trip.

From Dover they will travel through France and Belgium and then to Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and finally to Kosovo.

With a tightly packed schedule, they have just two weeks to distribute the mountains of boxes to the poverty-stricken families that have been left to struggle in a country destroyed by the ravages of war.

For the past two months, the three dedicated volunteers have burnt the candle at both ends drumming up support, picking up boxes and liaising with their contacts in Kosovo.

They asked local churches, schools, companies, families and individuals to imagine a life where children suffered from malnutrition, and where living in fear and with loved ones missing is part of everyday life.

Then they asked them to donate what food they could to fill a supermarket banana box.

The response was more than any of them could ever have dreamt of.

An extra 38-tonne truck was even brought in to accommodate the surge of aid collected as the appeal gripped the city.

Don said: "It's been fantastic. We can't believe it.

"The adrenalin is running now and we want to get out there and do it. But this isn't the end.

"We'll be going back later in the year and will need the help all over again."

The volunteers are urging anyone who didn't manage to get their aid in this time to keep it for the September convoy.