A UNIVERSITY student from Darlington put his gap year to good use by working on a hospital ship.

Ben Tait, 19, who lives in Cleveland Avenue, worked voluntarily on the MV Anastasis from February to March, when it travelled to Togo, West Africa.

The ship provided medical care and operations on board for African people who could not afford treatment.

Ben, a former Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College student, said: "There were about 400 crew members, the majority being engineers, computer workers and deck hands who kept the ship running. There were, of course, medical staff who carried out the operations. My time was spent helping to keep the ship running.

"The crew also did some work within the community. I helped to build an orphanage during my time out there."

Ben became interested in working on the ship after he visited his friend's father on another hospital ship.

"Africa had never really appealed to me but because the ship was going there I went.

"The year was fantastic. I loved the people and the way of life. It's more simpler over there. It was a good experience and I made lots of friends. I also managed to do some travelling in Ghana and Benin," he said.

Ben left for York University this week to study philosophy, economics and politics. He hopes to eventually go back to Africa and maybe do other work abroad.