A CHOIR of African children will arrive to perform in Middlewich next month.

Many youngsters in the African Children's Choir are either abandoned or orphaned and the charity concert at Middlewich Civic Hall on May 5 aims to raise awareness of the plight of families in war torn and poverty stricken African countries.

The children are aged between seven and 12 and come from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria and Ghana and have recently appeared at sell-out concerts in venues like Coventry cathedral and the Royal Albert Hall.

David Moore, pastor at the Middlewich Christian Centre, helped organise the event as a warm up for the Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival in June.

He has also helped to find host families for them and in the past has looked after some of the children himself.

Opportunity

He said: "The children's choir was fully booked at the time of the festival and we felt it was a missed opportunity.

"So instead we have arranged for them to come to the town on May 3 to get people in the mood for the festival on June 14, 15 and 16."

Dave Thompson, Folk and Boat festival director, said: "All the money from this concert will go towards feeding, sheltering and educating more than 6,000 needy children back in Africa.

" A real difference can be made to the lives of these children.

"It'll be a fantastic event and a great cause for the folk festival to support.

"We hope that the whole town turns out to enjoy the night."

The concert is a mix of African song and dance combined with both contemporary and gospel music.

Doors open at 7pm and the concert starts at 7.30pm

Tickets cost £3 for adults and £2 concessions, available from the Middlewich Information Centre in Lewin Street, Microchips in Wheelock Street, or the festival box office by ringing 01606 834575.

jpowell@guardiangrp.co.uk