PHYSIOTHERAPISTS have arranged to send hundreds of unwanted crutches from Sussex to Africa.

The team at the Montefiore Hospital in Hove collected more than 750 unwanted crutches from patients and these are now on the way to to a poorly equipped hospital.

Once there, the crutches will be used by victims of car accidents and the past civil war.

Physiotherapist Gary Nicholson, who works at Radius Healthcare, a partner with the hospital, said: “Our patients leave crutches with us once they no longer have use for them, but we felt terrible just throwing them away.

“We made contact with a small charity called African Appeal that is now taking our crutches to Somaliland which is great news for the patients there.”

In the UK strict health and safety rules mean crutches cannot be reused.

All donated walking aid equipment is thoroughly checked to ensure they are in working condition before being transported.