Students from City of Bath College took part in a life-changing experience as they spent a week on a charity project in Africa.

The team of 15 students, plus staff, completed the community project in Gambia, where they built to a new grain store alongside villagers in Medina Salaam.

They spent a week adding the grain store to the village’s market building to provide a dry place to store rice and other perishable goods.

They also helped to improve the accommodation at Woulaba Garden – a locally owned and managed tourist lodge.

Trainee stonemason Luke Kingston said: “This was my first time abroad and it was a real eye-opener.

“Seeing life in a developing country really brought home how much we take for granted in this country.”

Carpentry student Chris Horler added: “It was an amazing experience, the kind of thing I never thought I’d do. To work somewhere so different to home was a great opportunity and I loved every minute of it.”

Project leader Lynne Scragg said: “The local village made the group very welcome and were really appreciative of the students’ commitment and effort.”