Seeing images of war-torn Afghanistan is like seeing similar chaos in Essex for Ted Crunden, who worked in the country for several years.

The former Essex county councillor helped the Afghan people when he was posted there in 1977.

Having previously been an education adviser, he became leader of a UN children's fund development team in Afghanistan.

The programme he worked on included helping children, drilling water wells to provide for the country's people and educating women.

Conditions in Afghanistan may not have been ideal when Mr Crunden worked there, but they pale into insignificance against the current problems.

Mr Crunden, who left Afghanistan in 1981, said when the Russians moved in, things became 'hairy' and at one point there were tanks at the end of his street.

"When we went out to work in a Jeep we had to have four armed soldiers with us," he said.

"But when I was there, it was much better than it is now. It's so sad to see what's happening. For me it's like seeing pictures of Chelmsford or Manningtree."

By Jeremy Price

Reporter's e-mail: jeremy.price@thisisessex.co.uk

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