An Ashtead independent school has given £13,000 to a charity that sends re-conditioned wheelchairs to people in Africa.

City of London Freemen’s School in Ashtead Park selected Through the Roof as their charity for 2010/11and handed over the money for their Wheels for the World programme at a special assembly at the end of last term.

The money was raised over the course of the school year from talent contests, cake stalls and a sponsored book read.

Wheels for the World is the overseas programme of Through the Roof, restoring and distributing refurbished wheelchairs giving them mainly to people in Africa.

It sends old NHS wheelchairs from around the country to a workshop in Parkhurst prison for restoration to almost-new condition by the prisoners.

These are then shipped off to Africa.

Mr Tim Wood, CEO of Through the Roof, said: "The vital work of our charity depends on a large team of contributors, so were extremely grateful to the pupils, parents and staff of the City of London Freemens school.

"Their fantastic donation of over 13,000 to our Wheels for the World programme will help transform the lives of many disabled people in developing countries."

For more information about the programme, please visit their website at www.throughtheroof.org/ourprogramme/wheels-for-the-world