A Saltaire-based charity is hoping to start a new chapter in the lives of hundreds of Gambian children by building school libraries.

Retired cinema worker Christine Schofield, 63, from Saltaire, and six other volunteers are building their second library in Gambia - and are planning at least four more.

Last year the Gambia Schools Trust, set up by Christine in 2001, raised enough to build a library in the North Bank village of Essau.

She and the other volunteers put out an appeal for books and packed 10,000 off on a one-month voyage from Liverpool to Gambia.

"It's a very poor area where there are thousands of children needing an education. We had to help," said Christine, who first went to Gambia five years ago on a visit with another charity when she was taken to a school that could not afford to pay its teachers.

It costs £25 a month to pay a teacher's wage and there is no government funding. "I came home shocked and knew I had to do something. That was when I decided to set up the Schools Trust," she said.

Soon after, Christine, of Bingley Road, teamed up with Thackley couple Hillary and Steve Lawther who were sponsoring a girl who lived in the Gambia.

They started raising money by seeking sponsors, organising car boot sales, pub fun days, concerts and asking local schools for help to fund the education work.

More help came in the form of Christine's husband Nigel, her sister Rosie Rushforth, from Bingley, David Oakfield, from Saltaire, and Linda Gunn, from Silsden.

Volunteers pay their own way for trips to keep a check on projects and help spot other areas and schemes needing their help. The Trust's workload has increased dramatically since it began - and so has its need for funds and support.

It needs £2,500 to build a new nursery in Basoluto village and £3,000 to build a library in another North Bank village called Minte Kundach.

Christine said: "Any help we can get will be great. We've had requests for four more libraries. We've got a wish list of goods we could do with to fill a second container that we'll be sending out from Liverpool again soon."

To find out more about the Trust's work either visit www.gambiaschools.org or call Christine on (01274) 581504 or Hillary on 07932 650644.