Severn Trent Water has joined forces with a Worcester plant hire company to help with a charity mission to Romania.

Worcester Hire Centre, based on the city's Shrub Hill Industrial Estate, has loaned a JCB 1.5 tonne mini-digger to Severn Trent to improve water supplies and education facilities in the eastern European country.

"We hope our first year of involvement will help to continue the great work already carried out and I'd like to wish the travelling group the best of luck," said Worcester Hire partner James Clutterbuck.

Severn Trent first travelled to Romania in 1990 with Anneka Rice to construct orphanages, and has returned every year since.

Six water company employees are set to travel to Siret, one mile from the Ukrainian border, where they will lay 600m of mains pipes.

They will also work to improve three school houses, two of which will become special needs centres, and one will be a school.

"This year we're very grateful to Worcester Hire Centre for the loan of their JCB 8015 and an emergency parts kit," said a spokesman for Severn Trent.