SOUTH African youngsters can benefit from Wyre Forest shoppers' generosity after a group of food stores threw their weight behind a charity's campaign.

West Midlands Co-op - which includes stores in Stourport and Kidderminster - are asking customers to donate books and cash to the Health Education and Reconstruction Training Books for Africa appeal.

Community HEART is trying to collect more than one million children's books for different ages to set up school libraries in South Africa.

It is also appealing for people to hand over 10p with the books at Co-op collection points to help meet packaging and shipping costs.

"As most children have no books at home, school libraries are the only access they have to books and reading material," explained voluntary fund-raiser Michael Williams.

He added: "With the help of West Midland Co-op and its customers, I'm sure we can make a big difference to these children and their future."