DARWEN Rotary Club has been collecting books from local primary schools to be sent to The Gambia.

This week members and friends gathered to pack more than 2,000 books into boxes which will go in to schools in the West African county which have none.

The town has long-standing links with The Gambia through the Darwen Spartans Junior Football Club which made several trips there to deliver sports equipment and is twinned with its town of Lamin.

Organiser Les Frankish, chairman of the club’s international committee, said: “We had a marvellous response from Darwen schools when we told them about our project .

“They came in their hundreds in all shapes and sizes and covered ages from nursery to 11-year-olds.

"We filled 22 large boxes which will go to a Rotary Club there who will distribute them.

“It has been a successful project, reflecting the concern of children in Darwen about less fortunate children.”