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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Katie Fitzpatrick

Martin Roberts overcome with emotion as he reaches Ukraine border and sees families inside refugee reception centre

TV star Martin Roberts was overcome with emotion as he filmed inside a reception centre for families who have fled war-torn Ukraine.

The presenter of the BBC's Homes Under The Hammer drove for 26 hours to deliver much-needed supplies to Medyka at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine.

Martin, 58, from Warrington, has been sharing his 'mercy dash' on social media.

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He showed followers one of the redistribution centres holding humanitarian aid supplies which are then loaded onto lorries before being redistributed to refugee centres.

Among the piles of donations were prams and walking sticks.

Martin then filmed inside a reception centre specifically for families with young children.

"I'm now in one of the many reception centres for people coming across the border and you can see these long lines of camp beds," he explained.

"Just look at this room. I'm trying to work out how many families are here.

His voice faltered as he continued: "Amidst it all you get to see these groups of young kids trying to carry on regardless."

lush46 told him: "Well done for making that important journey."

debbiecove commented: "Stay strong. Doing good."

warren2311 told him: "Well done Martin Roberts, you are an inspiration."

Martin drove with his red van filled with items including medicine for children, respirators for newborn babies, saline drips and pet food.

He set out on Saturday and shared a video as he stopped at a service station after taking a ferry from Dover to Calais and onwards through France, Belgium and The Netherlands as he headed for Germany before stopping for a few hours sleep.

Martin asked fans for song choices to get him through the long drive to help those affected by Russian president Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine.

He said that as well as lots of music on the stereo, he was fuelled on the journey by 'lots of wine gums' and 'bits of Red Bull.'

His trip comes after he posted a tearful video from outside Costco after being limited to the number of bottles of children's medicine he could by before other members of the public stepped in to help.

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