Red tape has been shoved away so aid can quickly get to war victims in Ukraine.

The British Government on Friday announced the immediate easement of customs regulations for this.

This stops the entanglement of post-Brexit bureaucracy for goods taken to the Continent.

Before this one charity had said three of its vans delivering aid were held up for two days at the Port of Dover because of paperwork problems.

The UK Government says the simplification of customs processes will apply to items intended to support those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which are exported from Britain.

Provided the goods are not exported to, or through, Russia or Belarus then these simplified processes apply to qualifying goods regardless of the destination.

This is to allow maximum flexibility to get aid to where the need is greatest.

The Government still recommends that it is best to give money through trusted charities and aid organisations, rather than donating goods.

Cash can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed and individuals and aid organisations can use it to buy what is most needed.

But the Government says businesses, charities and community organisations sending aid from British ports will be able to make a customs declaration by speaking to customs officers or simply by the act of driving through a port.

They no longer need to complete and submit electronic customs declarations to HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) before exporting these goods.

Smaller movements will not need to use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service to pass through ports where it is in operation.

"This new customs easement will ensure aid is fast-tracked."

The easement will also remove other customs formalities, such as needing to notify HMRC when the goods have been exported.

Lucy Frazer, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: “People and businesses across the UK have already responded with immense generosity, donating millions of pounds to support those forced to flee their homes as a result of the war in Ukraine.

“Government advice remains that the best way to help the Ukrainian people is to donate money through the Disasters Emergency Committee or other trusted charities.

“However, we appreciate that people and businesses may still wish to donate aid directly to the region, so this new customs easement will ensure that humanitarian aid is fast -tracked from Britain to help those most affected.”

The easement, which excludes all controlled goods and dual use goods, will be in place for a limited time and the end date will be announced in due course.

Anyone needing advice about transporting humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees can contact the free-to-use Export Support Service or its helpline 0300 303 8955.

The charity the Lewisham Polish Centre had said that three of its vans were held up in Dover, from March 4 to 6, after the drivers were told they did not have the correct documentation.

They had to get around this by travelling on a tourist ticket and finally boarded a ferry, later reaching the eastern Poland close to the Ukrainian border.

The Government says it has committed a £220 million humanitarian aid package for Ukraine.

This takes the UK’s overall support for Ukraine during the current crisis to nearly £400 million, after a £100 million economic package was announced earlier this month,