Dad delivers supplies to troops over Christmas

At a time when many people will be looking forward to enjoying Christmas with their families, a cafe owner from Hereford will be spending his time delivering supplies to troops in Ukraine.

Father-of-four Pete Masters has been taking aid to soldiers in the Donetsk region since the conflict with Russia began in 2022.

On Sunday, he set off for the area for the tenth time taking warm clothing like socks, gloves and hats, much of which has been donated by Hereford residents.

He donates 50p for every coffee sold at his cafe, The Sacred Brew, to help buy supplies and fund his trips.

The former New York City firefighter said he had promised himself he was not going to go back to Ukraine again, but felt he could not leave the troops without the supplies.

"It's -10 over there, so anything I can take to the troops that's clean, new, that doesn't smell, is great," he said. "I just carry it in my bag and deliver."

The Foreign Office has advised against all travel to most parts of Ukraine, including the Donetsk region.

On a previous visit, he had a lucky escape when a rocket struck as he was leaving the front line.

He now wears a bulletproof vest when delivering supplies to protect him from shrapnel: "The biggest killer out there is the shrapnel from the constant artillery bombardment," he explained.

But, he added, "If the troops are there, I want to be there with them.

"It's as simple as that."

He is confident he will soon be back in Hereford for a late Christmas with his family.

"Stupid as it sounds, I've never thought my life was in danger," he said.

"We've been shot at, we've had rockets fired at the car.

"Something always brings me home."

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