A woman from Alton is leading a local fundraising drive to buy an ambulance for use in Ukraine.

Margaret Lockett was stung into action two months ago when American president Donald Trump and vice-president JD Vance threatened Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky with the withdrawal of US backing for his country in its war with Russia.

She sent a desperate message to a few friends: “I’m still upset about yesterday’s terrible performance at the White House. I feel that the only thing I can do is to be constructive, so I am thinking of fundraising to buy an ambulance or van to send over to Ukraine.”

Trump remains antagonistic towards Zelensky and the death toll in Ukraine continues to mount. Earlier this month a Russian missile struck a residential building in Kryvyi Rih, killing 12 civilians including nine children.

Margaret said: “Families were torn apart in an instant. Survivors waited desperately for help, but the emergency services were overwhelmed - too few vehicles, too far away, too late.

“It is part of a horrifying pattern. Russia targets peaceful homes and civilian infrastructure, and children, the elderly and entire families are caught in the crossfire, with no way to escape and no-one to reach them in time.

“The difference between life and death is often a matter of minutes. But when there are not enough ambulances, those minutes cost lives.”

Margaret and her friends are well on their way to funding an ambulance and welcome donations at https://localgiving.org/fundraising/alton-ambulance-appeal-for-ukraine

The Alton Ambulance Appeal for Ukraine is holding a fundraising concert featuring local bands the Kings Pond Shantymen and Cozy and the Dukes at the Holybourne Theatre on May 31 at 7.30pm.

For tickets, priced £15, visit Holybourne post office, call Margaret Lockett on 07543 125195 or visit https://holybournetheatre.co.uk/boxoffice