A BIG Lemon Bus is on its way to the Ukraine border, packed with supplies for those fleeing the war.

The Brighton bus company appealed to residents for donations of specific items to give to refugees at an aid centre on the border.

There was a huge response, and a bus stacked with medical aid, food, clothing and children’s toys is now travelling across Europe, with drivers Laszlo Redei, Ellie Ratusniak, and Big Lemon owner and Green city councillor Tom Druitt taking turns at the wheel.

The Argus: Councillor Tom Druitt loading gas cookers onto the busCouncillor Tom Druitt loading gas cookers onto the bus

Councillor Druitt said: “Everyone has been very stressed and moved by what’s happening in Ukraine. It’s very easy to feel powerless from so far away. I just thought ‘we’ve got transport, how can we use it to help?’.

“It’s been so humbling to see so much generosity. People have given donations to our bus drivers, brought things to our depot and to Hove Town Hall.

“We filled the bus completely, and even have a box of goodies that a very kind woman gave us for the journey.”

The Big Lemon teamed up with charity Sussex Homeless Support, which has previously been to Ukraine to donate supplies, to organise the trip.

Cllr Druitt and the team will first travel to the Hungarian border, then hope to source medical supplies in Poland, Ellie’s home country, which they will take to a Moldovan town near Ukraine.

The Argus: Laszlo Redei, left, Ellie Ratusniak, centre, and Tom Druitt about to set offLaszlo Redei, left, Ellie Ratusniak, centre, and Tom Druitt about to set off

They are also offering to transport people back to the UK who have the correct visas under the UK government’s Homes For Ukraine scheme.

Residents in Sussex are urged to contact the Big Lemon bus company if they are sponsoring someone under the scheme who needs assistance with transport.

The Argus: The team with Tom Druitt at the wheelThe team with Tom Druitt at the wheel

It comes as the government continues to face criticism for its handling of the refugee situation, after it insisted on stringent visa protocols for those fleeing Ukraine rather than allowing them to enter the country freely, a system adopted by many other countries in Europe.

As of yesterday, some 12,000 refugees have entered the UK.

The Argus: The Big Lemon bus at French customs in DieppeThe Big Lemon bus at French customs in Dieppe

Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for the length of time it is taking for Ukrainian refugees to arrive in the UK.