A LONG-TERM Marlborough charity volunteer was among thousands of Britons evacuated from The Gambia, after fears grew that violence was about to erupt in the west African country because of political uncertainty there.

Anita Bew, who has volunteered for the Marlborough Brandt Group for 30 years, had been helping out at a pre-school in Gunjur, a town Marlborough is twinned with, for the past few weeks.

Now she is safely back home in The Pippin, Calne, and said she has been overwhelmed by messages of support.

On the advice of the Foreign Office, the 71-year-old and thousands of British tourists were told to evacuate The Gambia as the president of 22 years, Yahya Jammeh, initially refused to hand over power after losing an election.

Mrs Bew was flown home safely on Friday evening to Gatwick, cutting short her six-week volunteering stay.

“I have received so many messages from people in England and in The Gambia saying how relieved and happy they are that I have returned home safely – I have been deeply touched by it all,” said Mrs Bew, who was back volunteering at the charity on Tuesday.

“It is nice to be back but I am also sad that I could not spend the full six weeks out there in Gunjur and continue to help out at the pre-schools there.

“Although we were not in any real danger, the people of Gunjur were living in fear, locking themselves in their homes and not going to work in the worry that there would be violence. The village was eerily quiet.

“Some parts of the country came to a standstill. People were understandably very worried amidst the political uncertainty but it looks like the transition will be peaceful.”

Mrs Bew, who also volunteers for the charity Project Gambia in Gunjur, found out about the Foreign Office’s decision to evacuate people from the country last Wednesday.

“People were panicking about the prospect of violence and although I was safe it became clear I would have to leave as the villagers locked themselves away out of fear,” said Mrs Bew.

“Thanks to the charity and my son, who were able to contact the brilliant and incredibly reassuring Thomas Cook, I left on Friday morning and was on the plane home from Banjul airport later that evening.

“I hope to see my friends in The Gambia in the not too distant future as I do really enjoy helping out over there.”

The Marlborough Brandt Group is a community-based charity that was set up in 1981 and has forged a link between Marlborough and Gunjur, a Muslim community.