For our friends in the South.

Art by youngsters at a Northumberland school is to be sold to help poor children in South African townships.

Pupils at Croftway First School in Blyth created the 4ft-long oil and acrylic canvas, which depicts African warriors.

It will be sold on inter-net auction site eBay and the proceeds donated to the school's fundraising drive to help youngsters in rural South Africa.

The project was set up by teacher Jackie Lumsden, who visited Queensborough High School in Durban in the summer and made links with the school.

Croftway headteacher Charles Ellis said: "It is so bright and colourful and would grace the walls of any gallery in the country."

Jackie's trip was arranged by the county council and the British Council.

She said: "Many of the pupils we met did not have parents, some have Aids/HIV and the staff have to grow their own produce so the children have good food to eat."