An article published in the Brentwood Gazette has helped convince a government to rebuild a hospital.

In March the paper ran a story about Brentwood electrician Roger Allen in its supplement Brentwood Style.

Roger and his Convoy of Hope team were taking supplies and building materials to hospitals in Croatia, and working with students from Anglia Polytechnic University to turn a former civil-war Serbian 'interrogation centre' into a hospital.

The story, with colour photos, also showed the appalling conditions of a nearby hospital, which is home to some old people.

The article was spotted by the Croatian Embassy in London and sent on to the Croatian government.

Ministers ordered their own teams of builders to help refurbish the old, former interrogaton centre, and once it is complete the elderly hospital residents will move into their new home.

Roger said: "The Brentwood Style article was instrumental in getting the government in Croatia to do the main work, but we still have much to do in terms of refurbishment and helping equip the place. We have made a start."

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