A NEW dormitory built with money from Hampshire will allow 200 African schoolgirls to study in safety.

The county's Lord Lieutenant, Mary Fagan, formally opened the Queen Elizabeth II Building when she visited The Gambia in western Africa last week.

Since 1999 individuals and organisations all over the county have given aid to the 1,300 pupils who attend schools in the lower river division of the Commonwealth country, which is surrounded by Senegal.

New classrooms, clean water, toilets and a kitchen have all been built following a millennium appeal led by Hampshire Scouts which raised more than £75,000.

Mrs Fagan said: "This year we had a chance to make a real difference to the girls who attend the Tahir Secondary School."

During her visit, Mrs Fagan visited the vice president of The Gambia.

Mrs Isatou Njie-Saidy has taken a keen interest in the Hampshire project over the past three years.

Mrs Fagan also inspected the work currently in progress by 20 soldiers from Hampshire Yeomanry Battery Royal Artillery Volunteers.

She is the honorary colonel of the brigade based at Blighmont Barracks in Millbrook Road, Southampton.

They are refurbishing two classrooms at the Soma Primary School, also in The Gambia.

Hampshire organisations involved with the work in The Gambia include Hampshire County Council, Southampton Football Club and the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service international rescue team.