STUDENTS and staff from South Craven School are gearing up for a trip to west Africa at the end of term.

The 21 year-12 pupils and five teachers will be travelling to Ghana.

Their trip has been two years in the planning, and is being organised by teacher Jonathon Lonsdale in conjunction with the organisation Partner Ghana.

The students have been fundraising to cover the substantial costs of their fares. They are now looking to collect books and raise money for gardening equipment, paint and other school equipment that they can use when they visit Elmina Methodist School.

A spokesman for South Craven School explained: "Elmina is a fishing village on the coast of Ghana and used to be a centre for the slave trade.

"As guests of the school, our students are hoping to create a library and garden, paint some murals and experience some cultural exchanges with the Ghanaian pupils, as well as experience a tree top walk in the forest and tour the local town.

"We're hoping this will be the start of a lasting partnership with the Ghanaian school. A teacher from Elmina Methodist is due to visit the UK in the autumn."

South Craven School has offered its thanks to Snell Construction Ltd, Watsons of Skipton and the Harehills Foundation Trust for their donations towards materials for the Ghana trip.

If people want to make further donations they can contact Jonathon Lonsdale at South Craven School.