NEVER have so many children been so happy to be handed a toothbrush.

Barnsley folk showed they were bristling with generosity when they donated hundreds of toothbrushes to help deprived children in Africa and those brushes are now being put to good use.

A call was put out by a group of local supporters of the charity Africa with Love, for toothbrushes for needy children.

Staff at Barnsley Council and Berneslai Homes pulled together a haul of 430 brushes, which the group has just delivered to Uganda.

Carol Higgins, from the group, said: “Toothbrushes are taken for granted here, but over in Uganda, trying to feed their families takes priority as they have so little.

“To many families a toothbrush is a luxury, which is why we wanted to get so many. We also bought toothpaste.

“We can only do what we do because of the continues support and help from so many local people.

“June Wray, a member at Emmanuel Church, hosts a fortnightly knit and natter group and from that group, and others who have heard about June, we also received lots and lots of beautiful blankets, jumpers and hats, all in lovely bright colours.”

Carol, of Downs Crescent, Gawber, said 17 boxes of goods were sent by ship to Masaka, Uganda.

The team from Barnsley has just retuned from the visit where members opened, sorted and distributed all the items in those boxes including towels, bedding, shoes, clothes, pens and pencils.

Over recent years a group of local people have helped raise thousands for the Kyjubira school near Masaka in Uganda, which is supported by the charity Africa with Love.

Fund-raising in Barnsley helps support the school and has paid for many improvements as well as providing clothes, toys and equipment for the pupils, many of whom are orphans.