PRIMARY school children will be singing their hearts out this month at a charity concert sparked by the terrorist atrocity in America.

Smallwood Primary head Pat McDonnell and her fellow staff and parents were appalled by the scenes of carnage which followed the attacks on the World Trade Centre.

As a result they decided to organise a fund-raising concert in aid of the victims of the attacks and other disasters around the world.

Hold My Hand has been chosen as the title for the concert, at the Victoria Hall in Hanley on Saturday October 27.

Money raised will go to the International Rescue Corps, an independent UK-registered charity set up in 1981 following an earthquake in Italy.

Its patron is Richard Branson, and it provides free emergency rescue to people in the UK and across the world regardless of race or religion.

In addition to offering help to America the charity is sending three people to Pakistan to co-ordinate the putting up of tented camps for refugees flooding across the border from Afghanistan.

"We wanted to do something to help following the American disaster, and I liked the corps' mission of helping whoever is in need," said Mrs McDonnell.

The school would like to hear from groups wishing to take part in the concert, tickets for which can be booked by ringing the school or the Victoria Hall.