HUNDREDS of children in the Gambia are benefiting from the generosity of youngsters in Portchester - thanks to what started off as a family holiday.

School governor Denise Fletcher took her family to the African resort last October but while on her holidays decided to visit a local school armed with some gifts of stationery she had taken with her.

After that first visit to the Campana school she felt she had to do more - and knew exactly the right school to help.

Now, just months later and with 420 children at Portchester Primary School behind her, crate-loads of goodies are being sent out out to the Gambia.

Denise said: "It has been a wonderful response from the children. I explained what little the children had out there in a letter sent home with the pupils and they have brought in lots of things.

"The children in Gambia were so grateful when I gave them what I had with me on holiday that I thought it would be great if we could keep up the link with them. We hope to start up a pen-pal scheme with them soon."

Pupil Emma Ponsford, 10, said: "I think it is a good idea because they don't have much stuff there.

"I have sent a reading book for them.

"It has made me think about how much we have got compared with them."

Gifts of stationery, books, plimsolls and sports equipment are now all packed up ready to be shipped out free of charge by the delivery company DHL, based in Southampton.

Denise, who is chairman of the governors at the Castle Street school, said: "It was up to me to find some way of sending the boxes over there and DHL in Southampton offered to do it for us free, which is wonderful."

The boxes are due to be shipped out this week.