REDUNDANT medical equipment worth tens of thousands of pounds at buy-new prices will soon be winging its way from Bolton to a 600-bed Romanian children's hospital.

And it's all thanks to the generosity of Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust and officers from Greater Manchester Police.

On Saturday PCs Geoff Ward, Phil Boak and Glyn Coxon, and police civilian driver Richard Haynes, will start on the 3,500 mile return journey between the Sweet Green Tavern pub in Bolton to the Spitalil Clinic de Copll in Oradea.

Inside the 38-ton articulated lorry will be a large assortment of medical equipment including operating tables, operating theatre lights, anaesthetic machinery, patient trolleys, sutures and gloves.

It is being supplied by the Trust following the recent move of services from Bolton Royal Infirmary to Bolton General Hospital.

Trust Director of Operations, Beverley Andrew, explained: "This equipment has been replaced by much more up-to-date versions in our new theatre suite and, because it is old or obsolete, is not saleable.

"However, we were approached by PC Ward who told us that there is a great demand for medical equipment in Romania and that these supplies will be very welcome. We are delighted to help the children's hospital in this way and wish PC Ward and his colleagues good luck in this venture."

Also, 103 children's cot mattresses from Babywise in Darwen and new surgical supplies from other sources will ensure all spaces within the lorry are filled.

It is estimated it will take two weeks from start to finish to transport and install the equipment. Help will be on hand from a three-man team of Ken Leadbetter (Chief Surgical Instrument salesman and engineer), Tony Day (Electronics Engineer) and Tom Cunliffe (Quantity Surveyor).

More than £3,500 had to be raised to cover expenses and officers have achieved this by organising various dances, raffles, auctions and other fund-raising activities.

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