Malawi has already received emergency food donation

Rotary clubs in Carlisle and nurses from the city's Cumberland Infirmary, are behind the relief project.

Medical equipment, clothes, toys and other goods are being crammed into a 40-tonne container lorry for the 5,000-mile trip.

The country, which borders Tanzania and Mozambique, is prone to natural disasters of both extremes - from drought to heavy rainfalls.

The driving force behind the project is Fiona Smith from the Cumberland Infirmary.

She said: "We have thousands of pounds worth of equipment, from replacement hips to Zimmer frames. We've even got an x-ray machine and ultrasound equipment.

"We've also collected toys, clothes, bedding.

Underwrite costs

"It is very important they we get supplies over there because at the moment they haven't got anything."

Ms Smith and other staff from the Cumberland Infirmary have links with doctors in Malawi and have been involved in other projects in the past.

John Chalmers, from Carlisle South Rotary Club, added: "We have heard of what people have been doing in Malawi for about two years.

"We decided to try and underwrite the cost of transporting some equipment out there."

About 30 volunteers have signed up to load the container for its journey, which begins on Saturday.

According to the United Nations, Malawi is one of the world's poorest countries, with many of its 12.1 million population in need of food and medical assistance.

In February, the UN-backed World Food Programme distributed food to 3.6 million Malawians.