Another team of dedicated travellers has left Gloucester to travel 3,000 miles to the Gaza strip.

Gloucester residents Abi Motara and Mustafa Berkouk will travel with Bristol man Bob Lewis and Cinderford town councillor Hedley Sutton to the stricken region in an ambulance and a long wheel-based van.

They joined the rest of the third "Viva Palestina" aid convoy in London yesterday to start the journey to the region.

On Saturday, Councillor Sutton said: "I am most definitely looking forward to it, it will be an amazing experience. It's all about saving people's lives and, for the people taking part, it is an event that you probably won't do again in your life, so it's really exciting."

Their vehicle of choice, an eight-year-old ambulance, is one of 16 ambulances going on the trip and will be left in Gaza on the team's arrival along with other donations.

Mr Sutton said: "We are taking a defibrillator with us along with medicine too. Defibrillator save lives and they are badly needed out there, so it's great that we can offer them that."

The trip is expected to take three weeks to complete and Mr Sutton is in no doubt as to what the highlight will be.

He said: "Arriving in Gaza will be amazing, I'm sure. The Palestinian people are great and very generous so I'm sure they will be very hospitable and will do the best that they can for us. The whole trip will be amazing and it's great to be doing something for such a great cause."

The vehicles are not the first to leave Gloucester for the region. In February, three vans made the long journey, packed full of aid for the victims of the ongoing struggle for peace.