THE Stourbridge News will be producing live updates direct from The Gambia on our website over the next fortnight as 80 students from Ridgewood High School head out to Africa.

Our assistant editor Pete Wallace will be joining the staff and students on the annual Project Gambia trip with the first group heading out on Saturday (March 19), while the second group will join them on Tuesday, March 22, before the final group make the trip on Good Friday, March 25.

We will be bringing daily blogs, photos and videos from the students, so their families and friends can keep up-to-date with all the goings on out in the Gambia.

Click here to see our dedicated Project Gambia content.

Throughout the past year, our readers have raised £12,350 for our Well of Life Appeal which has provided a solar-powered water pump for the Gambian farming village of Sintet after launching hand-in-hand with Ridgewood.

During the trip, a plaque designed by Rufford Primary School pupil Sharna Stevens in memory of village boy Mustapha, who died after falling into one of their old, hand-drawn wells, will be installed at the farm next to the now completed well.