A Malvern woman is raising funds to bring a talented African teacher to the town for a year to put her through a teaching qualification.

Alice Bennett, proprietor of the Madresfield Early Years Centre, met Agnes Kadzo Hinzano in Mombasa, Kenya, when she travelled to the region in August to hand over a £2,000 cheque towards the construction of a bush school.

She now hopes to raise nearly £1,500 over the Christmas period to pay for the teacher to come over.

"She was working with kids in the hotel where we staying, in the kids' club," said Mrs Bennett.

"She is extremely intelligent, speaks six different languages and is great with kids, but they were not even paying her a salary. She had been told she might get a salary if she worked long and hard enough.

"She is now being paid, but it's a pittance. So I am raising funds to fly her over here to stay with us, we live on a farm, and I have a spare room, for a year while she studies for her teaching NVQ."

Staff and pupils at the centre are aiming to raise £1,400 to pay for Agnes' flights to England and pay for a passport, visa, shoes, a suitcase and warm clothes.

The 24-year-old will work at the centre, gaining experience and paying for her tuition fees. When she has completed studies, Agnes can return to teach in Kenya.

If the scheme is a success, it could pave the way for more African students to come to Malvern to gain qualifications.

But Mrs Bennett warned that on return, she faces difficulties unimaginable to teachers in England.

"Pupils at the school we have set up have to travel seven miles to the nearest source of clean water," she said.

"Our next project is to fund them a water supply."

For details on making a donation contact Mrs Bennett on 01684 574378.