A COMPUTER enthusiast is giving unwanted laptops a new lease of life to help inspire tomorrow's scientists and engineers.

Adam Fowle has transformed used computers into state-of-the-art devices and is giving them away free to children across Cheshire who don't have access to the internet at home.

"The project works by converting old laptops into Chromebooks that can run modern software safely and quickly," said Knutsford dad Adam, who works as a private maths and computer science tutor.

"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."

Adam has already donated 10 laptops to pupils at Bexton Primary School and children living in Northwich.

He is appealing for anyone who may have a computer they no longer use.

"I am sure there are many laptops lying around in lofts, garages and spare rooms," he said. "I have had a very positive response from people who have been delighted they have gone to a good home. I hate to see stuff wasted when you can recycle it.

"We don't know who is going to be the next super scientist or medicine inventor. 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."

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

It takes him around 40 minutes to turn an old unwanted laptop into a modern device.

"Converting them to Chromebooks makes them run very fast," said Adam. "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.

"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.