Redundant computer equipment belonging to the Evening Press is being recycled for the benefit of York schoolchildren.

The equipment has been overtaken by advances in technology but is still in good working order and will now be cannibalised by York computer company Multi Comm to create new systems for schools.

The equipment donated includes 20 PCs, six printers, three Apple Mac computers, six standard monitors, two large monitors and a number of keyboards.

The recycling scheme is the brainchild of Multi Comm boss Norman Lynch, who had the idea when he saw a skip full of abandoned computer equipment in Leeds and decided it could be put to good use.

He said: "A lot of useful equipment is thrown away after the average three years usage in most offices, and this can often be perfectly adequate to be used in a school.

"Sometimes it is a case of adding new software or, in others, elements of several computers which can be put together to create new ones.

"We will be able to get quite a few good systems out of this lot and we might be able to store what is left so it can be used later when other equipment comes in.

Dave Hopwood, of the Evening Press systems department, said: "The equipment we have donated was in use here up to a year ago.

"It includes some Type 486 systems which would be good for schools and colleges to use.

"We decided to donate the equipment so we could put something back into the community and hopefully other businesses might take our lead."

Apart from the Evening Press donation, Norman has so far received 20 PCs, which helped to create a revamped machine for Headlands Primary School, in Haxby, York.

Other schools will benefit free of charge as their needs are made known.

Anyone who can help Norman equip our children for the 21st century should call him on York 765821.

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