AN AID worker planning to fly to Africa to help disabled orphans is angry after being told she can’t take a much-needed suitcase full of underwear for the children without paying an £800 excess baggage charge.

Brenda Johnson, 68, from Stratton, is due to make the 5,000 mile trip to Africa in May to take care of severely disabled kids in a remote village in Zambia.

But on Wednesday she was dealt a bitterr blow when the airline, Emirates, informed her that she couldn’t fly with a second bag containing children’s underwear without incurring huge costs.

“It’s a real shame, in this day and age, that people can’t find it in their hearts to help,” said the retired teacher.

“They are a well-renowned airline and they can’t take this one little suitcase – it doesn’t cost them anything.”

Brenda will be taking a 30 kilo case filled with things for the children and just enough clothes to see her through her two month stay.

The airline has a standard 30 kilo luggage allowance and Brenda’s extra suitcase, filled with underwear that the orphanage desperately needs, would add an extra 20 kilos.

When she asked about breaching the weight limit, she was told that it would cost her £40 per kilo for doing so.

“I can’t possibly spend all that money just paying for a suitcase,” she said. “Every time I spoke to them, they just kept saying they wouldn’t make exceptions. I was very angry.”

If the airline refuses to budge, Brenda will use her own baggage allowance for the underwear for the children, which means she’ll be left with nothing for herself.

The home in Zambia cares for severely disabled children between the ages of three to 14.

Explaining the reason for the desperate need for underwear, Brenda said: “The ones who have no legs spend a lot of time on their bottoms and their underwear gets worn out very quickly. Last time I went I took pencils and educational things, but this time they wanted lots of underwear too.

“Doctors fit the children with prosthetics and it’s my job to help with physiotherapy afterwards.”

It’s the second time Brenda has visited the home.

She said: “I belong to Holy Family parish. We have a convent attached to the parish and two of the sisters run the orphanage. They asked me if I wanted to go over and help about 18 months ago.

“I love it. It’s a place of hope and joy. The children are not negative. It’s not about what they can’t do but about what they can.”

With the help of her church she has managed to gather the many sets of pants she needs – now she is hoping the airline will have a change of heart.

The Adver contacted Emirates for a comment but they were unable to provide one before we went to press.