A GWENT family is taking an unusual cargo with them on their summer holiday this year.

Scott Pope, 30, of Riverside, Newport, his wife and two children are to spend three weeks in Romania and will be taking donations of goods for families in poverty-stricken areas of the country.

Among the items are 12 computers donated by Keith O'Connell, Mr Pope's manager at Welch's of Newport, where he works as a car valeter.

Mr Pope said: "I was gobsmacked when he said I could take the computers. I used to work in electronics, so I'll be able to set them up when I get out there."

He has been to Romania before, but this is the first time he has taken his wife, Cheryl, and their sons, Sean, 12, and Joel, two.

Mr Pope, who will be making the 1,500-mile round trip in a camper van towing a caravan, said: "They wanted to see Romania for themselves."

Apart from delivering aid, the family will also be helping build a shelter for homeless single mothers, with donations of paint and tiles. Mr Pope said: "Sean's keen to lend a hand - Joel's probably a bit young!"

The family are due to set off on July 15, and the mission has been organised by John and Diana Whittle, from Cross Keys.

They have been running missions to Romania since 1991, and this will be their 27th trip.

The couple have taken everything from bags of clothes to boxes of cereal in the past.

John Whittle said: "It's not a charity. My wife and I are Christians and were called to do this by God. Everything we take is donated - we've been very blessed."