Redundant Isle of Wight Council laptops are being refurbished for use in some of the world's poorest communities.

The council partnered with The Turing Trust charity late last year to provide computers for rural schools and academic institutions in Africa.

In total, the council has donated 330 Lenovo laptops to the charity's specialist workshop.

After undergoing a strict data destruction process, educational software is loaded onto the devices, which are then given to UK and overseas organisations that otherwise can't afford IT.

The council's donation is expected to offer IT education to roughly 5,940 students.

Roger Brown, the council's strategic manager for ICT and digital services, said: "This is not the first time the council has helped charities by providing them with our old equipment — such as Sight for Wight — but it is the most significant provision by size.

"We chose The Turing Trust because of their incredible work to bridge the digital divide in Africa. We were inspired by their mission to provide education and training opportunities to underprivileged communities.

"We estimate that another 200 laptops may also be appropriate for handover in the future."