An appeal to West Cumbrian businesses to help disadvantaged children in The Gambia has been launched by an Egremont couple.

Colin and Sharon Fox, who run the charity Siiboo, are looking for businesses to sponsor a classroom (£59 a month) and individuals to sponsor a chair, which costs £5 a month.

And a Cockermouth business has signed up to support a Gambian nursery after meeting Colin and Sharon.

Derwent Dental Care, on Kirkgate, will sponsor a classroom at a village nursery which is struggling to survive.

Owner Paul Rowlands and his wife Rose were so impressed by the work of Siiboo that they offered to help.

Paul's business will sponsor a classroom, donating money each month to cover the cost of pens, pencils, paper and basic equipment. The money will also go towards uniforms and the teachers' allowances.

Colin and Sharon set up the Siiboo charity two years ago following a holiday to The Gambia.

"The nursery is in a rural village and struggles day to day with very limited facilities, no equipment and in a building that is in need of repair with no electricity and no water," said Colin.

"It is only out of the goodness in the hearts of the teaching staff, their devotion to the children and commitment to the community and a belief shared with us that every child matters and every child deserves an education that the nursery remains open today.

"However, without intervention the nursery, which has 95 pupils, faces the real possibility of closure."

Twenty nine people have sponsored chairs but the dental practice is the first business to sign up.

Through their BIG Little Shoe Appeal, which involves asking people to donate footwear, Siiboo has already provided shoes for all the pupils. Derwent Dental Care are one of the shoe drop-off points.