urgent info on sharpening required!

[boaty]

Would a section from an old belt work as a strop? Although the outside probably wouldn't be any good as they're shiny, the inside isn't finished so thought this might work?

Absolutely - I use an old belt, and both the shiny outside and the fuzzy inside work. You can get stropping compounds, or polishing soap, which rubs nicely into the fuzzy side then finish off with the shiny side

Remember that a strop's job is to waggle the burr around enough so that it breaks cleanly off, so the shiny surface works OK