A budding African journalist has been given a helping hand after a UK regional newspaper publisher awarded him a new laptop.

Eighteen-year-old Abdoulie Jammeh, from the Gambia, won the equipment after taking part in Newsquest South London’s Young Reporter Scheme, which saw entrants write articles for its titles’ websites over the course of the last year.

Abdoulie, the first overseas student to take part in the competition, impressed the company with his stories about life in the African nation and received his prize with help from The Gambian Schools Trust, which presented him with the laptop last month.

Abdoulie, pictured above left, is now working as a freelance journalist for an online Gambian newspaper and hopes to study at a British university in future.

He said: “I’m short of words to express my gratitude and thanks to the team at Newsquest South London.

“After nearly five months of eagerly waiting to lay my hand on my first ever laptop, I have finally received it together with the letter of recognition and the 2014 Young Reporter Award brochure.

“I was more than happy and glad as I have never had a laptop before, so it was an emotional moment for me.”

Hilary Lawther, trustee at the Gambian Schools Trust, presented Abdoulie with the kit.

She said: “It was a moving moment for us both and Abdoulie was so grateful.”