PRIOR Pursglove College is sending old computers to help orphans in South Africa.

A consignment of 150 machines is being sent to the Qwa Qwa area, where one computer is shared between 1,000 students in a region blighted by Aids, HIV, TB and other diseases, and thousands of orphans face a bleak future.

Stephen Whitehead, Prior Pursglove principal, was delighted the college could do something to benefit young people who face overwhelming difficulties.

"We are in a very fortunate position of having state-of-the-art computer facilities, and can replace our stock from time to time to keep pace with all the changes in the field of communications information technology," he said.

"These particular computers have become surplus to requirements and been replaced by more modern equipment.