The 31 beds have been donated by Spire Leeds Hospital in Roundhay to the Orphans in the Wild charity.

Currently the charity is refurbishing the Mdabulo Mission Hospital in the Mufindi district and expanding the Ibwanzi Medical Facility into a mini hospital.

If the hospitals are equipped, the Tanzanian Government will supply medical staff and it is hoped the Mdabulo Mission Hospital will become a counselling and treatment centre for HIV and Aids, which would cut the long distances patient currently travel for vital anti-retroviral drugs.

The donation of the beds from Leeds, coordinated by Spire Leeds engineer Dave Woodward, came after the hospital installed new electric beds.

Anna Tchaikovsky, hospital director, said: "It is fantastic that these beds will be put to such good use, and that they will now make such a difference to the lives of people in this remote region of Tanzania.

"Previously some of the wards had little more than mattresses with sheets, lined up on ward floor. We are delighted that these beds will make the work of the medical staff easier and make the patients' time in hospital far more comfortable."

Marion Gough, of Orphans in the Wild, said: "We can't express what a difference the beds will make to the 40,000 villagers who live in Mufindi. They will be delighted to have both the equipment and support they so desperately need."

Orphans in the Wild aims to improve living standards in rural parts of Tanzania, the world's 13th poorest country.