A FORMER firefighter is planning a 10,000 mile journey from Glasgow to deliver a minibus loaded with gifts to an orphanage in Mongolia.

Craig Watson, 44, and two other volunteers from the Tartan Tourers charity will travel to Hull, Rotterdam, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia and finish with the handover of the vehicle at the Lotus Children's Centre in Ulan Bator in July.

But before they embark on their mercy mission, the team need to raise around £3000 in sponsorship and donations to pay for fuel and vehicle import costs.

Charity workers Craig, Garry Reid and Robert Brown have already raised money through events and dipped into their own pockets to pay their £5000 travel costs and accommodation.

The School Minibus Company has offered to supply the Tartan Tourers with a minibus but they are desperate for more help.

Tartan Tourers events co-ordinator Craig, from Paisley, said: "We have fantastic support from Lorraine Shaw at The School Minibus Company who contacted me directly to supply the Tartan Tourers with our minibus.

"We are desperate for Scottish business support keeping our tartan theme to help with the fuel and vehicle import costs.

"We have contacted several Government Organisations both in the UK and in Mongolia in the hope that these fees can be waived for charity but as yet we have not been able to achieve this.

"Any company or individual willing to sponsor or donate to our import or fuel costs will receive a full advertisement with their logo on the vehicle throughout our epic journey."

The dad-of-four plans to hit the road with his team Garry, of Greengairs, North Lanarkshire, and Robert, from Kirriemuir, Angus, on July 4.

The minibus will be loaded with a box of donated gifts for every child at the centre.

The team came up with the fundraising idea after a trek to Mongolia in 2011 helping to raise more than £70,000 for UK based charities, MND Scotland, The Davy Cooper Centre, The Michelle Henderson Cervical Cancer Trust.

They met and experienced first-hand the terrible conditions both children and families are forced to endure and decided to support the Lotus Children`s Centre which is home to 100 vulnerable and abused children.

To donate or sponsor the Tartan Tourers visit tartantourers. webs.com or donate directly touk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/tartantourers.