CHILDREN from some of Africa's poorest families have been singing their way around the area.

The African Children's Choir, currently on an 18 month world tour, performed at Rawdon's Benton Park School last week and this weekend are due to arrive in Pool-in-Wharfedale for a few days rest and relaxation.

The 26 children, all aged between seven and 11 years old, and their 11 helpers will all stay with host families, many with long associations with the Music for Life charity, before heading off to the United States on Wednesday for the next leg of their tour.

After a performance at Leeds Town Hall on Sunday, the children and chaperones will be collected by host families, mainly from Pool and Arthington, but also from Burley-in-Wharfedale, Adel and Scarcroft.

On Monday they will gather in Pool and on Tuesday they will spend a quiet day with their adopted families before heading off to the airport.

Pat Stockdale, who together with her husband, Peter, have put up some of the children for every tour since 1996, said it was like having family coming to stay.

"These children are so wonderful that when they are gone, we feel bereft. They are like family coming and when they go, we feel very down," she said.

The children are mainly different on each tour and come from all parts of Africa, including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria and Ghana. This year, most of the children have come from Rwanda, with the remainder coming from Uganda.

The children, who are either orphans or are from very poor families, are lucky to be chosen to join the choir with more than 1,000 auditioning to join.

Money is raised throughout the tour and each child sponsored, so on their return they can be put through schooling.

Mrs Stockdale said some of the children went on to become doctors and teachers while others went into agriculture.

"The children are such strong Christians that they're behaviour is exemplary and put us to shame. They don't leave their rooms until everything is tidy and say grace before every meal. They wash up all their pots and are so grateful for everything," said Mrs Stockdale.

The children are not used to running water or toilets and at home in Africa often live in one room huts and face long journeys to school - if they are lucky enough to attend.

"We had one girl one year who we took to Harewood and she said it was about the same distance she walked every day to school. She was happy to walk five miles to school and five miles back every day," said Mrs Stockdale.

l last week's concerts at Benton Park School raised more than £1,250 for the charity which will be poured back into supporting the children's education.