TEACHERS are spending their summer in a remote African village to see how their school's fundraising has helped local children.

Jackie Hartley, Hilma Peacock and Sarah Bell, from the Allertonshire School, in Northallerton, are giving up part of their holidays to visit the Imagine Charity, in the Catembe area of Maputo, one of the poorest areas of Mozambique.

The charity, which targets development and rehabilitation programmes in Mozambique, including street children and HIV/Aids programmes, has forged close links with the Allertonshire School, which has raised more than £15,000 for the charity over the past three years.

Assistant headteacher Mrs Hartley said: "Through various fundraising efforts we have been able to support schools, street children and the Mother Teresa Sisters Orphanage, in Catembe, as well as provide desks and school equipment.

"This will be our first chance to go out and actually see for ourselves the difference it has made to people's lives."

The trio have a lot to pack into their bags for the ten-day trip, taking with them football shirts, baby clothes, finger puppets, pens, pencils, rulers, rubbers, crayons, paints, recorders, books, maps, artwork and a host of sports equipment.

The teachers will sit in on some lessons with the African children and will meet the district administrator as well as the district director of education.

PE teacher Ms Bell said: "We know what we expect it to be like, but I don't think anything can fully prepare you. I think that we may be shocked by the deprivation, but will also be grateful that we are doing something positive to help.

"It will be great if I get a chance to do some sport with the children using the equipment that we will be taking."

The teachers will also be taking hundreds of questions that Allertonshire students have been asking about Mozambique.

"Through our visit, we hope to help our own students at the Allertonshire have a greater understanding of life in a developing country," said head of year Ms Peacock.

"We will bring back the answers and loads of photographs to show our pupils how their generosity has helped."