Thomas Plumpton and Jake Tunstall, from Clinkhamwood, left St Helens for Ukraine on Tuesday, March 1 after watching the worrying events unfold over the past week.

Both dads to two young children, the pair said that they "need to do something" and help displaced families and refugees in whatever way they can.

Thomas, 30, and Jake, 28, flew to Poland from Liverpool John Lennon Airport on a plane "full of volunteers" on Tuesday, and crossed the Ukrainian border this morning (Thursday, March 3) via coach travel.

As Thomas and Jake arrived at a military camp at the Polish-Ukrainian border, they were also given a "survival kit" and military training from soldiers - "just in case" they need to defend themselves