A gallery owner has donated 140 paintings to an art sale in aid of an African schools project.

Nick Hills has been supporting the scheme to build schools in Rwanda since he traveled to the country on holiday last year.

Despite traveling to Rwanda to see mountain gorillas, Mr Hills and his wife, Machteld, were approached by Faith Uwantege, a Rwandan woman with a dream to start a school in her community.

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Mr Hills, who has run the Redleaf Gallery in Castle Street for almost 20 years, was sold on the idea by Miss Uwantege when she began her pitch by saying "I believe in miracles".

Though the school is set to open in January after being transformed from a large and rocky field to a functional building by local people, more help is needed to finish the building and employ teaching staff.

The sale, being organised by Grand Auctions, will be held on Monday, September 19.

Jonathan Riley from Grand Auctions was keen to help as soon as he heard about the project.

"We are determined to do everything we can to make the sale a success, and have waived our usual sellers charges.

"I would urge anyone who has been touched by this story to play their part in raising money for this school.

"Rather than just give a donation, you can buy a painting as a lasting reminder of this heart-warming tale," he said.

Works in the sale include a painting by Andrew Vicari, which has previously been put up for sale by Christie's in Dubai in 2006, at an estimated value of between $25,000 and $35,000.

Known as the "king of painters and the painter of kings", Mr Vicari's subjects include Vladimir Putin, Sophia Loren, Mao Tse-Tung, Francois Mitterand, and Prince Rainier of Monaco.

The sale will be held at Grand Auctions showroom in Pent Road, Folkestone.