YORK College students have been putting in some extra hours to help a training college in Ghana.

A tutor at the college, Philip Waterworth, is working at the Abura Vocational Training Institute in Ghana with the VSO.

He has persuaded staff and students back home to beg, borrow or steal enough equipment, from old computers to hairdressing tools, to fill a large shipping container which has been sent to the students in Ghana.

The Ghana college offers construction, carpentry, electrical, catering, dressmaking and hairdressing courses.

Chris Lee, a learning assistant in the construction department at the college, said: "We put out a general appeal around the college asking for curriculum areas to help and there has been a great response.

"We've collected everything from old computers to hairdressing and joinery tools - we have tried to get hold of things from each parallel department here."

Mr Waterworth, a brickwork tutor at the college, hopes that the equipment will help local people and students in Ghana to become self-sufficient.

Kay Green, who is the college's enrichment co-ordinator, said that the shipment of goods had been paid for by World Vision UK.

She said: "The York students are keen to see this relationship grow and it is hoped we may be able to offer individual help to Ghanian students in the form of sponsorship in the not-too-distant future."

Updated: 10:45 Monday, October 13, 2003