Readers of the Exeter Express and Echo are helping thousands of people in one of the most deprived areas of Africa look forward to a brighter future.

The newspaper featured an appeal last month for desperately-needed tools and equipment, which was met with a generous response.

Locally based charity Workaid needed the tools to distribute in Africa and as a result of the appeal a collection point was set up at a Methodist chapel.

Local organiser Alec Rolls said: “I would like to thank everyone who provided gifts for the collection and in particular all those readers of the Echo who provided us with an absolutely fantastic collection of tools and equipment. The response was absolutely overwhelming.”

Among the tools donated were 22 sewing-machines, typewriters, saws, Horticultural tools, carpentry tools and a set of tools given by a builder who was retiring and said he wouldn’t need them anymore.

A mini-collection was also made a church in Tiverton as a result of the appeal featured in the newspaper.

Workaid was set up in 1986 and supported educational and vocational schemes in the Third World through the supply of second hand tools collected and refurbished in the UK.

Alec Rolls said: “Workaid offers practical aid to people in the developing countries to enable them to raise living standards towards a brighter future.”

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