A KIND-HEARTED Borders couple have opened their home in Bulgaria to a family fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Carole Gascoigne and John Dodds lived in the Balkan country for eight years near the town of Tryavna.

And after seeing the unfolding conflict in Ukraine, the Ettrickbridge residents have given a family-of-four a safe place to stay.

Carole said: "The war broke out and we thought it would be good to offer the house out."

In an effort to find ways to help, the 66-year-old posted their home on a number of websites which were connecting families in Ukraine with people who could offer safe homes.

Initially Carole was approached by a Ukrainian woman, Aleksandra, whose family was attempting to leave Odesa. However, this family managed to find alternative accommodation.

But, thanks to posts on social media by Aleksandra highlighting the availability of Carole and John's home, the couple were put in touch with a family based in a town north of the Ukraine capital, Kyiv.

Galia Mihalchenko, her daughter Olya and two grandsons, Vladik (five) and Nail (10), had been staying in a bunker.

One morning Carole received a message from Galia saying that they had heard bombs and that they were going to leave Ukraine for Bulgaria.

"It was a 20-24 hour journey on a little bus to Lviv close to the border," said Carole. "Then they were going to get the train to Romania but Galia said there was a sea of people and that they were never going to get the train.

"So instead they got a taxi to the Romanian border. Friends of ours [Nicola Miller and Jonathan Taylor] in Bulgaria then picked them up and drove them to the house."

It took Galia and her family four days to travel from Ukraine to Bulgaria.

However, Galia's husband and her oldest grandson both stayed to help defend their home.

During this time Carole had set up a JustGiving page for the family, hoping to raise money to cover basic costs for the wood fire, electricity, wifi and other necessities.

At the time of publication, Carole had exceeded her original target of £1,000, raising £1,200. She has now increased the aim to £2,000.

Carole said: "It was heartbreaking and harrowing, communicating with them in the bunker.

"But when you're connected with people you feel like you're going through it with them, it's not like when you're watching the news.

"I can't imagine having nothing, travelling for days, being frightened and the bombs and fire.

"I feel honoured that they've allowed us to be part of their journey – that they trusted us.

"It's a very special relationship. I would love to meet Galia and her family properly in person."

Since arriving in Bulgaria, Galia and her family have also been supported by Carole and John's neighbours who have helped with keeping the wood fire going, provided water when their pipes froze and helped to set up wifi.

"People have been so kind," Carole added, "it's very special."

To support Galia and her family, click here.