A TEACHER and lifeguard decided to spend February's half-term putting his skills to good use in Sierra Leone.

Robin Howell is a RNLI lifeguard from Perranporth and teaches geography at Humphry Davy School, Penzance.

Instead of relaxing before the new term and the upcoming summer break, when he will be back on patrol at Perranporth, Robin volunteered with Extra Mile, a charity specialising in placing volunteers in teaching posts in Sierra Leone. He said: "I am fully aware of the poverty that exists in the world, but to experience it first hand was something else.

"Eight years ago, Sierra Leone's civil war, in which some 30,000 people died, was coming to an end, so I can understand that it might not be on the top of everyone's list of places to go.

"But I was committed to the charity work and once the wheels touched the ground there was no turning back."

Robin spent time teaching pupils geography at the Sengbe Pier secondary school.

He said: "The schools were very basic, with blackboards the only resources in the classroom.

"I had taken material out with me but large class sizes meant resources were shared."

Robin also used his lifeguard knowledge to ensure bathers were safe at the local beach.

He spent the first weekend at the beach bodysurfing, but as a RNLI lifeguard he is never off duty. He added: "There were small rip currents along the beach and I became aware on several occasions that swimmers were struggling to get in.

"Thinking I might have to rescue someone, I kept an eye on them and checked their progress but fortunately they made it back to shore without assistance."

Robin hopes to return next year to carry on his work with the local schools.