CHURCH officials are backing a Huddersfield charity with a new appeal.

The Wakefield Diocesan Board of Finance is looking for donations to help transport gifts to Africa.

Every nine months a 20ft container leaves Huddersfield for Mara, in Tanzania, filled with clothes, computers, stationery and medical supplies.

Although there is usually no problem in collecting the gifts, the costs of transporting them have risen.

Tineke Bentley, of the Mara Link Committee, said: "This year we are going to need £6,000 which is a lot of money.

"At the moment we are about £1,000 short but hopefully we can have that raised by the time the container is due to leave in April."

The goods, collected by Faith in Action and the Mara Link Committee are sent out through the Christian African Relief Trust, are much appreciated by the recipients.

The Bishop of Mara, Bishop Hilkiah, wrote after they received the last container: "Please be assured you helped our people with their struggling life.

"We have hunger and therefore people find it difficult to save money and buy clothes."

Donations towards the transport costs can be sent to WDBF, 1 South Parade, Wakefield, WF1 1LP.