A father of three from Hotwells is travelling in a convoy taking aid to Palestinians living in Gaza.

Mohammed Elhaddad, a 37-year-old literature researcher at UWE, left St Marks' Road in Easton for London yesterday to join the Viva Palestina mission.

His car will be one of 120 vehicles in the convoy, including a fire engine, ambulances, trucks and a boat, carrying around £1 million worth of donations.

The convoy will travel through France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Rafah into Gaza, raising the flag of Palestine in every country.

The Viva Palestina convoy is supported by the Anglo-Arab Organisation, several British trade unions, the Stop the War Coalition and a large number of Muslim organisations.

Libyan-born Mr Elhaddad said: "I feel an overwhelming responsibility to do whatever I can to help my brothers and sisters in Palestine and to ensure that every pound of aid raised is delivered and reaches the victims and their families in Gaza.

"I believe it is vitally important to get the relief needed to those organisations that are struggling to cope with the devastation wrought by the constant and long-term Israeli military assault." Mr Elhaddad needs to collect money for Gaza between now and the beginning of March.

Anyone who wants to join his support for the people of Gaza should e-mail bristolstopwar@hotmail.com.