Book bus heads to Africa in place of double-decker destroyed in fire

Pub landlady Eunice Jokrasett said the bus was like an English resource centre for children in Abidjan

A charitable project that was put in jeopardy when its double-decker bus which was due to take books to Africa caught fire has been saved.

Pub landlady Eunice Jokrassett and other villagers in Smallburgh, Norfolk, had been fundraising to fill a bus with books and parcels since February.

But when they collected the bus in Croydon in July it caught fire en route to Norfolk.

A businessman donated a replacement bus and it is now headed to Africa.

Ms Jokrassett, who is from Ivory Coast, where the bus is headed, said the donated items included books, clothes, car seats and nappies.

Three people were on board the bus when it burst into flames on a dual carriageway in Cambridgeshire

"The community have been really supportive and rallied round to the project," she said.

Ms Jokrassett, who runs the Crown Inn, said the bus would be used as a library once it arrives in Abidjan.

"Out there they felt it was better if it was driven from time to time from one school to another, to make it more exciting so the national bus company out there offered to fund a driver," she said.

A charity auction of promises, along with donations, have helped villagers fill the bus with parcels for Abidjan

It will take the red double decker about two weeks to reach Ivory Coast on a ship

Fundraiser Eileen Cole said donations had come in from individuals and schools.

"They've given us lots and lots of education resources, they've given us stuff we can donate when we're out there to schools and to orphanages," she said.

Eunice Jokrassett will be joined by some of villagers when she goes to her home country next month to see the bus in situ