UNWANTED laptops have been transformed into ChromeBooks and given away free to children across Cheshire who don't have access to the internet at home.

Computer enthusiast Adam Fowle has been overwhelmed by the response from Guardian readers after appealing for old unused computers.

"I got over 20 new donations," said Adam, who works as a private maths and computer science tutor.

"The project works by converting old laptops into Chromebooks that can run modern software safely and quickly.

"They are almost as good as if they were brand new. They can connect to the internet, email, videos and play sound and ideally suited to children."

Knutsford dad Adam, who used to work for various prestigious IT companies, now finds teaching children much more rewarding.

It takes him between eight and 24 hours to convert each old unwanted laptop into a modern device.

"I have had a very positive response from people who have been delighted they have gone to a good home," he said. "I hate to see stuff wasted when you can recycle it. All of the laptops are wiped using specialist software that writes over the entire disk.

"I'm asking for donations of any old laptops up to around 10 years old that turn on and have a working power supply. All data will be wiped as part of the conversion process and anything that can't be used will be returned or recycled responsibly.

"I am sure there are many laptops lying around in lofts, garages and spare rooms and there must be other local businesses that will have old laptops that could be donated."

Gleave Partnership, a Northwich based business, donated eight laptops on Friday.

Adam has now distributed 30 laptops to pupils at Bexton Primary School, Lostock Gralam Primary school, Peover Superior Primary school, and eight directly to children from Northwich, Knutsford, Mobberley and Crewe.

"We don't know who is going to be the next super scientist or medicine inventor," he said. "Education should be a human right, not based upon whether you can afford a laptop.

"It would be a shame if children missed out on opportunities simply because they didn't have access to a computer at home.

"Almost all homework and resources are now online. There are still an awful lot of families without sufficient devices."

Adam is willing to collect any unwanted computers from Knutsford, Northwich, Winsford or Middlewich. Anyone wishing to donate an unused computer can email laptops4schools@gmail.com.