ABOUT 200 laptops have been donated to schools across Herefordshire to help children access lessons while learning from home.

During England's third coronavirus lockdown, which came into force at the start of the school term in January, 400 laptops were donated into the Hereford Times Laptops Appeal, in partnership with Laptops2Kids Herefordshire.

On top of that, almost £10,000 has been donated to fund repairs and upgrades to the laptop and tablets donated, with the work done by John Finch Computers in Hampton Park Road.

The head of the appeal Tim Brett said laptops are no longer being accepted as the team still has 200 laptops to process between now and the Easter holiday in six weeks.

Some 34 school have accepted donations so far, with those laptops initially sent out to help those children access online lessons during the lockdown as some families don't have facilities to ensure consistent attendance.

Mr Brett, 46, of Ross-on-Wye, said sometimes this can be because the family has no laptop or tablet, or sometimes only one to share between siblings.

All remaining devices will be donated to schools to use how they wish to support students, and any remaining monetary donations will be used to repair current devices and, if there is still money left, buy new tablets for schools.

Mr Brett said Laptops2Kids, which has had the support of the Hereford Times, was far more successful than he first thought it would be. For more, including how to make a monetary donation, visit bit.ly/HTlaptop