UNIFORMS formerly worn by well-heeled children in Marlborough are now being proudly sported by pupils at two schools in West Africa.

Privately owned Kingsbury Hill House School in Marlborough closed last summer because of dwindling numbers.

Some parents decided that rather than letting the redundant uniforms end up as dusters and rags they could find new life at schools in Gunjur, Marlborough's link community in The Gambia.

Shirts, blouses, skirts and trousers were collected by Steve and Della Moran, whose son James, 12, was at Kingsbury Hill House School.

The family, who live in London Road in Marlborough, were planning to freight the clothes to Gunjur when it was suggested that James, now a student at St John's School, and his father should deliver them in person.

The pair, with the uniforms in three huge holdalls, joined a seven day trip to Gunjur with a group called BUILD (Building Understanding through International Links for Development).

The Marlborough based group is an offshoot of the Brandt Group and the UK One World Linking Association run by Dr Nick Maurice.

The party that travelled to Gunjur included Mr Moran and James, Dr Maurice and Sir Nigel Thompson, who is the chairman of BUILD.

They were given a state reception upon arrival and were met by a government minister before they were whisked off to Gunjur in a motorcade watched by huge crowds and with children running alongside the cars.

Mr Moran said: "I don't think the Queen could have had a better welcome."

In Gunjur they were welcomed by the Alkali, their equivalent of mayor.

James and his father stayed in a family compound in Gunjur where there is no running water or electricity and only very basic toilet facilities.

They handed over the Kingsbury Hill House uniforms to the primary and lower basic schools.

Mr Moran, who runs a catering company with his wife, said: "They are giving the uniforms to the children to be worn not as everyday school clothing but as their best clothes for special occasions."

They discovered that although the schools they visited each had generators to provide electricity for computers they have been given, they can run them for only a couple of hours a day because they cannot afford the petrol.

James made some close friends with boys of his own age during his stay and said: "Although they speak in Mandinka most of the time they write in English."

He was impressed with how happy the children were although they have no electronic games, computers or mobile phones.

James played soccer with the boys and they taught him a popular game they call Uno.

He found the diet of fish and rice rather repetitive and said: "Some of their food was quite nice but some was a bit yuk!"

He said he was sorry when the time came to leave and one of the friends he had made cried inconsolably when they parted.

James is planning to keep in touch by writing and he said: "I do want to go back again if I get the opportunity."

Sir Nigel Thompson, who lives at Stitchcombe, was making his first visit to Gunjur as chairman of BUILD.

Sir Nigel said: "We held many meetings with different people including the Vice President of The Gambia, the Bishop and a senior Imam, the British High Commissioner and the director of the UK Department for International Development and the country's director of Voluntary Service Overseas.

"I also did a television broadcast, which was the second item on the national news and was able to make reference to the extraordinary relationship that exists between the people of Marlborough and Gunjur as well as referring to the urgent need for access to piped water in Gunjur.

"I was asked by the Mayor of Gunjur to convey his best wishes to the Mayor of Marlborough and thanks to the people of Marlborough for their assistance over the past 23 years."

Sir Nigel said the people of Marlborough "should be immensely proud" of their efforts to develop the relationship between the two communities.