A Grove nurse has returned home safe and well from a mercy mission to the latest trouble spot in Eastern Europe.

Nursing auxiliary Madeline Brown 59, from Westbrook, took leave last month to help a British charity which is working in Albania to relieve suffering among Kosovan refugees from Serbia.

For almost three weeks, she was out of touch with her family as she took part in Operation Angel, aimed at bringing much-needed supplies and clothing to families forced to flee into Albania by Serbian militia engaged in ethnic cleansing.

Back home, Mrs Brown revealed that while helping to ease the suffering of families with little or no poss- essions, she and her fellow charity workers had been threatened and robbed at gunpoint. "I actually had a Kalashnikov pointed at my chest," she said. "The Albanians are absolutely lawless and corrupt, from the police down.

"But the Kosovans are an incredible people, really lovely.

"We had no common language, except for signs, but you could tell from their eyes, and their hugs, just how much they appreciated what we were trying to do for them.

"We've helped an extraordinary amount of people and fed and clothed refugees.

"I'd like to thank the people who helped us go out there," she added.

"It was an experience I shall never forget."

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