A HOME in Westlea has become a hub for the export of a rather unusual product.

Bob Newman has so far collected nearly 7,000 used, and empty teabags.

But far from being a deluded eccentric hoarder of useless items, he sends the teabags to a township in South Africa where they are turned into a range of colourful products.

Mr Newman, 66, retired from his job as a lorry driver last year and, together with his wife Lyn, 56, now has the time to indulge his passion for travel.

In October, on his first trip after his retirement, the couple visited South Africa. He said: "We went because it's somewhere we'd never been.

"We took the Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town.

"We became aware of the townships by the side of the railway track areas where large numbers of non-white Africans are living in shacks constructed mainly of timber and tin, in less than acceptable living conditions.

"Most are unemployed and without any prospect of improvement in the near future.

"The townships are huge, stretching as far as the eye can see.

"While we were in Pretoria we took a tourist bus to the Imizamo Yethu township at Hout Bay."

In the township they spotted the Original T-Bag Designs company, which was set up by an English schoolteacher to help provide employment for local people.

The company employs 20 local people, who turn the teabags into all sorts of products, including cards, boxes, coasters, candle-holders and even tea-trays.

Bob said: "They take the dried teabags and use them as a painting canvas.

"Then they attach them to various things and make these products.

"It is not a charity it is a company which employs 20 African women out there.

"The income they are getting is minimal by our standards but they are feeding 90 dependants so this really is doing some good.

"I thought deeply about this on the plane back to Britain and thought this was something I could help with."

The Newman family home now has a selection of the finished products for sale, as well as acting as a collection point for the used teabags, which must first be dried.

"I'm not making any money out of this", said Bob.

"I sell these items for the same price as I get them for."

Mr Newman would be happy to give talks about the project.

Anyone interested in buying the products or collecting teabags can contact him by calling 01793 872389.