RETIRED Burnley head teacher Bob Pilborough has launched an appeal for unwanted old Bibles, hymn books or other Christian material to be forwarded to Third World countries.

Mr Pilborough who is a member of the organisation Book Aid said: "Mostly they go to former British colonies in Africa where the people can read English but cannot afford to buy the books."

The former Rosehill junior school head said: "I am essentially the local collector. If people can get in touch with me over the next couple of months I will take the books to the collection point in Nottingham ready for them to be sent out by container to Africa."

In the past six months Book Aid has shipped seven 20ft containers of selected Christian books and Bibles overseas, a total of 700,000 books sent to Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia.

Mr Pilborough said many of the poorest nations of the world, especially those in Africa, were experiencing tremendous Christian growth yet were starved of the basic spiritual food we took so much for granted - books.

Anyone who can help is asked to get in touch with Mr Pilborough on 01282 429127.