Computer equipment collected by a media centre will be used to teach computer skills to people in the developing world.

Companies using Brighton Media Centre were asked if they had unwanted or out-of-date computer equipment which could be useful for projects run by charity Techknowledgy.

Among companies that helped out were Mousetrap Media, Headstar, RadarSat and Liquid Light, who provided computers, printers, scanners, fax machines and even mobile phones.

The idea came from Jemima Kiss, assistant to the media centre's general manager, Sarah Klugman, after reading a newspaper article about good ideas for the 21st Century.

She said: "When I realised how much equipment we had at work it seemed the perfect match, so I called Techknowledgy and we arranged the collection.

"Developed countries are far too wasteful with resources and we forget how well off we are compared to most of the world.

"We really hope this helps Techknowledgy to make a difference."