A YORK company is helping to heal the wounds of war-torn Afghanistan with state-of-the-art communications equipment.

A team of three technicians from Saville Audio Visual transported a vital translation system to the country's capital, Kabul, via Pakistan.

The team spent ten days in the central Asian country installing the high-tech system and training local workers in its use and maintenance.

The equipment has already been used for a high-level two-day international aid conference organised by the Afghanistan Assistance Co-ordination Authority.

The system enables simultaneous translation of meetings and includes closed circuit television cameras linked to giant digital plasma screens which can be viewed in separate locations.

It is now housed in the prime minister's palace and is set to be used by politicians, diplomats and aid officials from all over the world.

The £250,000 deal was secured with the Department for International Development only weeks ago and is a major business coup for the Nether Poppleton-based company.

Managing director John Sills said the project had given him some concern but he was relieved that it had been completed successfully and safely.

He said: "We were delighted to win this major contract and to be making an important contribution to Afghanistan's development at this critical point in its history."

Team leader Tim Spratling, who volunteered to travel to Afghanistan, said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He said the team members queued for hours to get visas for both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He added: "Once in Afghanistan conditions were certainly not as bad as I expected and we were able to do our work without too much trouble.

"It's great to play a part in the rebuilding of a country that has suffered so much devastation."

The expensive equipment was flown on a DC8 charter plane from Kent's Manston Airport to Kabul, via Sharjah in Pakistan.

Updated: 11:44 Friday, April 19, 2002