A Saltaire charity is making a New Year's resolution to build a school a year in Gambia.

The Gambia Schools Trust, started six years ago by retired cinema worker Christine Schofield, 63, and six other volunteers, has already helped hundreds of children.

The Trust started off raising funds to build libraries, it opened its first last year 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.

Now a second library is under way in the region which will cost about £3,000 and the Trust needs a further £2,500 to build a new nursery in Basoluto village.

Thackley couple Hillary and Steve Lawther have just got back from a working visit to Gambia to check progress.

And thanks to the support of Bradford schools, including Immanuel at Thackley, and other fundraising initiatives and book collections, another container is all set for departure so it arrives later this month in time for a visit to the country by Mrs Schofield.

She said: "We aim to make the creation of a new school an annual project. One way in which this is to be funded is through donations from people who pass on to the charity money which they would have spent on gifts for special occasions. We supply specially designed cards which can be given to show this has happened and explain how the money is spent."

Mrs Schofield, of Bingley Road, Saltaire, is hoping the latest primary school the Trust is funding in Naata on the South Bank will be built and painted while she is there.

As well as building new schools and new libraries the Trust also helps pay teachers' wages in areas where parents cannot afford the fees to make running a school possible. It costs £25 a month to pay a teacher's wage and there is no government funding.

Mrs Schofield, who first went to Gambia five years ago on a visit with another charity was shocked into action when she was taken to a school that could not afford to pay its teachers.

"I came home and just knew I had to do something. There were all these children who needed an education and there just wasn't the money to make it happen. That was when I decided to set up the Schools Trust, " she said.

Soon after, she teamed up with Mr and Mrs Lawther who were already 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.

Volunteers pay their own way for trips to keep a check on projects and help spot other areas and schemes needing their help.

Mrs Schofield said: "The Trust's workload has increased dramatically since it began - and so has our need for funds and support. Any help we can get will be great."

Anyone who wants to find out more about the Trust's work can visit www.gambiaschools.org or call Mrs Schofield on (01274) 581504 or Mrs Lawther on 07932 650644.