A COUNCIL worker trying to deliver aid to Gaza refugees has been left "devastated" after she was forced to return home when her convoy journey was blocked.

Leah Levane, aged 55, set off from her New Cross home in Pepys Road on December 6 to join a convoy of 198 vehicles travelling the 3,000 mile journey from London to Gaza to deliver aid to Palestinian refugees.

The convoy, which included fire engines, ambulances and cargo, is carrying medicine, educational materials, kidney dialysis machines and braille machines for Gaza's school for the blind.

But the mother-of-one was left no choice but to return to work at Lambeth Council when the convoy ran into difficulties in Jordan and was severely delayed.

Ms Levane, who is chairman of the south-east London Palestine Solidarity Campaign group, said: "We had a wonderful reception all the way through Greece, Turkey, Syria and Jordan.

News Shopper: Leah Levane

"On Christmas eve we sang Christmas carols outside the Greek Orthodox Church in Aqaba, Jordan.

"But for some reason the Egyptian Government would not let us cross the Jordanian border, and the convoy has been forced to drive back 500 miles through Syria to find another route.

"I had used up all my annual leave at work so had to come home on January 1 and leave everyone else behind.

"I am absolutely devastated. I wanted to do something which was really practical rather than just campaigning in Britain. I just wanted to be part of it for that reason."

The convoy, which was organised by charity Viva Palestina in partnership with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, has nearly completed its detour to Gaza.

Before the hold-up in Jordan, it had been on target to reach Gaza by its target date of December 27.

For more information on the charity, or to make a donation, visit vivapalestina.org