A consultant at Barnsley Hospital wants people to donate unused laptops to a South African primary school which has 150 pupils but only four computers.

Dr David Bullimore, who works in the medical admissions unit and in gastroenterology at the hospital, has been working with Sizo Primary School, in Mpumalanga Province in the north-east of the country, to help improve its levels of education and health.

He said: “Better education and improved health are the keys to a future vibrant South Africa, but many of its communities are struggling with poverty and a real lack of resources.

“I’ve been working with the Sizo Primary School to try to help them through these problems and to increase the opportunities available to the children there.

“We’re already making improvements to help with the health of the students and staff by installing a sewage diversion to restore a safe drinking water supply and a hygienic kitchen to prepare the meal given to the pupils late morning. For many it is the only proper meal of the day."

They are also funding a  sit-on grass mower as snakes inhabit the long grass and are a constant threat to pupils and staff.

But Dr Bullimore said educational improvements were still needed.

"The children need basic computer skills before they can progress to secondary school, and so we desperately need people to donate some laptops – ‘last generation’ ones are fine.

“They are great kids with great teachers. This is an immediate chance for people to help them - remember that South Africa’s future is our future too.”

Dr Bullimore is asking for laptops with at least 2GB RAM for transfer to the school.

E-mail davidbullimore@btinternet.com if you can help.