A veteran aid worker today vowed to continue helping poverty-stricken youngsters in Africa - despite surviving two brushes with death on her travels.

And as she headed back to Gambia to help to oversee the completion of a new school which will give youngsters their first taste of education, Hildred Helm, of Baildon, appealed to Telegraph & Argus readers to help her efforts.

Over the last few months Mrs Helm has injured her arm and was lucky to escape with her life after her jeep overturned on a rutted Gambian road. And she has been struck down by malaria.

Mrs Helm, who launched her charity after seeing some poorly-equipped Gambian schools while on holiday there, now spends several months a year in Africa. She said: "Despite everything that's happened recently I definitely won't let it put me off carrying on.

"It's so rewarding and people out there really appreciate the help we give them so I couldn't turn my back on that.

"I've just started a night school for adults wanting to learn English - they're so happy and keen to learn.''

A 40ft container packed with locally-donated aid - including everything from books, stationery and educational toys to desk drawers, furniture and clothing - is to be shipped out to west Africa.

Much of the aid will help equip a new school being built at Kuslang by Mrs Helm's Children of the Gambia charity.

Mrs Helm, 55, the wife of sports commentator John Helm, said the school - the second set up by the charity - would cater for up to 200 five to 11-year-olds from several villages.

She said: "We're hoping it will be open in October after the rainy season. Most of these children have never been to school before this will be their first experience of education. It'll give them a chance to learn and to speak English - it's the country's second language and if they want to move out of their villages and further their lives that'll be very important.

"There are people scattered all over Bradford with stuff stored in their garages and spare rooms but we need to centralise it all under one roof so we can get it all packed and ready for collection before it's shipped out.

"We're desperate for a large storage space, something like a warehouse or unused hall, that we can use till the end of September.''

l Anyone able to donate items or offer storage space should call charity secretary Dee Booth on (01274) 548389.