Charity aid worker Simon Rooksby has arrived in Africa to distribute vital medicine and food to Aids orphans, thanks to readers of The Argus.

Mr Rooksby, of Hailsham-based Computers for Charities, has released aid that was in storage in Zimbabwe to distribute to impoverished youngsters.

Within the next week he aims to take the vital food and medicine to rural areas that suffer most because of their isolation.

The aid mission was cancelled just days before Computers For Charities chairman Mr Rooksby was due to fly out because a company collapsed owing them £600.

The £600 was important to fund the trip but with the south Wales-based company having no record of owing them money, Mr Rooksby had to cancel.

But when the plight was highlighted in The Argus at the 11th hour, our readers came forward with more than £1,500 in donations to ensure the mission could go ahead.

Now, despite being beset by countless logistical problems, Mr Rooksby has arrived in South Africa to get the aid out to those who need it most.

Speaking from South Africa, he told The Argus: "Trying to get out into the rural areas is going to be the most difficult part.

"We have encountered a lot of problems. For one, the cost of everything seems to have risen astronomically since our last visit, particularly taxi fares.

"Petrol is almost non-existent, making it very difficult to get about, and there are always problems with electricity supplies over here.

"But, despite all the problems, it's not all doom and gloom and once we've achieved our aim it will all have been worthwhile."

Donations from Argus readers were gratefully received by the charity after the collapse of the project.

One £600 donation came from a company in America after bosses saw the story on The Argus web site.

Another £700 gift was given by an 84-year-old woman from Hailsham, who said she could not bear knowing the orphans would go without aid.

Dozens of calls of encouragement were also received from people touched by the campaign.

Set up in 1994 in a loft, Computers For Charities is run entirely by volunteers.

More than 100,000 African children have been helped into education thanks to the charity's efforts.

The group's latest fund-raising initiative is an album called Thank You featuring recordings by African youngsters and artists.