The Caring for God's World group at the United Reformed Church, in Wellingborough, is busy raising money to build a school in the town of Gorom Gorom in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Pastors Daniel Kabore and Keith Smith have been working as missionaries in Gorom Gorom since 1992, and Keith's mother Barbara Stanford-Smith, along with the other group members, decided the school would be an excellent cause to raise money for this year.

Mrs Stanford-Smith said: "Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in Africa and the primary school we want to build will be open to everyone, regardless of religion, race or sex.

"I went out to Burkina Faso eight years ago, so I know this school will make a huge, huge difference to the children out there.

"We want to provide quality education for the poorest and most vulnerable young people in society."

Group member Claire Ette said: "The estimated cost of building three classrooms, a headteacher's house, a well, a kitchen and some toilets is £40,000.

"As a church group we have set ourself the aim of raising £3,000 of the total cost.

"So far we have had a coffee morning and a jumble sale, and we are planning lots more events during the autumn.

"If anyone can suggest any fundraising ideas we would be very happy to hear from them."

The Rev Paul Bedford said: "The church fully supports this project, and I am quite sure that the group will be successful in their aims.

"Each year, Caring for God's World chooses a foreign charity to support, and each year we have been lucky in that a member of the congregation has always been involved in a project abroad, and we have been able to support their work."