A NORTH-EAST novelist has made an emotional return to The Gambia, where she has been closely involved in providing much-needed water wells.

Philippa Gregory's African visit is shown in BBC1's documentary series Inside Out, which returns for a new series tonight.

She went to the village where a well was put to celebrate her wedding three years ago.

Ms Gregory, from Hartlepool, said: "The Wedding Well is one of many that I have helped to build since I came here 15 years ago to research a book on the slave trade."

The well was built by the Gardens For The Gambia charity, which was set up to provide water for wells in the gardens of rural schools.

The charity, which was established in 1993, has now dug more than 60 wells.

Children learn the skills of sustainable agriculture, and the vegetables they grow provide dinner for the poorest children in school.

Surplus produce is sold and profits used to buy stationery and school equipment.

During her visit, Ms Gregory also went to a well that the Queen and Lord Mountbatten opened in 1961. Knowing that the well that was in need of restoration, she wrote to the Queen, who donated money.

Ms Gregory said: "When we give very little, it can make an enormous difference."

Ms Gregory's novels include The Other Boleyn Girl, which was adapted for BBC2, and The Queen's Fool, which remained in the top 20 bestseller lists for 20 weeks in 2003.

Inside Out is on BBC1 North-East and Cumbria at 7.30pm.

Published: 10/01/2005