Children collect books for South Africa

Books can make a difference in Durban

More than 50,000 books collected by children in Leeds will soon be on their way to Durban in South Africa.

In October, Leeds City Council, BBC Radio Leeds and the Yorkshire Evening Post appealed for reading material for schools in Durban, one of Leeds' twin cities.

In many Durban schools children have to cope in very poor circumstances.

Most are taught in bare classrooms without basic teaching resources.

'Giving something'

Lilian Andriotchi, a teacher at City of Leeds School, has been to South Africa to see conditions in schools for herself.

She said: "When you teach in a school like this which has millions of pounds of equipment the least we can do is spare a few old books."

Sarah Milner, a 14-year-old pupil at City of Leeds, said: "This is a way of giving people something that we have every day."

The book apeal is open until the summer.

Books can be left at Leeds schools, leisure centres and libraries.