A MAN from Parkstone is on a mission to ensure every child across the county has a laptop to help with home-learning while schools were shut.

Rob Franks, 42, has started donating unwanted laptops to schools to give to children most in need and has set up a GopFundMe page to buy some more.

And his work has even been endorsed by Harry Redknapp, Larry Lamb and Lorraine Kelly.

Rob said: “It was quite a surprise, my wife is a teacher at Longfleet School and they were crying out for laptops, I had one lying around so I thought I would donate it.

“I thought I could find more from somewhere and people started saying ‘I have got a laptop’ and it went from there.

“Then, all of a sudden, we had 28 in total and I thought if I could do that in this area I can do it anywhere.

“It means so much to be able to help families that are in need.”

The GoFundMe page had raised more than £5,000 at the time of writing, including £1,000 from actor Stephen McGann.

“With the money I am going to order the laptops directly to schools,” Rob continued.

“And I am now thinking I can do it nationally.

“There are people who, through no fault of their own, can’t go to school.

“I just thought I want to help people. A lot of people have lost their job, lost business and can’t afford to help their children.

“This would mean so much to everybody, all I am doing is setting it up, it is the people that are donating money and laptops that are the real heroes.

“I want it to go as big as it possibly can.

“My goal is to have every child in the UK to have a device to home-learn on.

“That is a massive ask but I’m quite motivated, this has given me a second wind.”

Rob said he was looking at buying reconditioned devices, costing £60 to £70 each.

And he even had a personal text message from Harry Redknapp.

The former AFC Bournemouth manager said: “I would like to add my support for the campaign you are running to raise funds to supply laptops for schools in Poole.

Keep up the good work.”

Rob added: “Please donate to help a child who doesn’t deserve not to be learning.

“Every child deserves to learn even though we are in lockdown.”

To donate, visit http://bit.ly/38YUmZI or if anyone has any unused laptops spare, get in contact with Rob at franksie9999@outlook.com.