A SPECIAL delivery of two ambulances will help the sick residents of an impoverished Romanian town.

The Bolton charity Good News for Romania has helped to secure two more ambulances for the beleaguered medical service in Barlad. The children's hospital will benefit from one of the ambulances and the fire service from the other.

It is a big boost for the town which already has one ambulance provided by the charity, run by Bolton couple Kath and Dave Richardson.

The latest ambulances have been donated by the St John Ambulance Brigade in London and although they are not new they are a vast improvement on the old ambulances in use in Barlad.

They do not have the hi-tech equipment that British ambulances have but they do have vital de-fibrillators and some basic medical equipment.

Kath said she had been "delighted" to get the offer from the London St John Ambulance Service.

Staff at the children's hospital are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their ambulance, which is badly needed. The ambulance that currently serves the main hospital is used every day and has been a valuable addition to the town's medical service, said Kath.

Firemen in Barlad have been trained to use medical equipment by Bolton's firemen and are looking forward to receiving one of the ambulances.

In Romania the fire service also operates an ambulance service.

Kath explained: "It is not like it is in England. They do not have advanced emergency services."

Barlad fireman Costel Florea will come to England next week to collect one of the ambulances, and the second ambulance will be driven back to Romania next month.

Kath said she wanted to thank Bolton Evening News readers who had raised money for the charity which will help to pay for the vehicles to be taken back to Romania.