THE grandchildren of a cancer sufferer who died in March have worked for months to put on a show tonight in his memory.

The five children, aged from nine to 16, will pay tribute to Peter Langstone with a musical extravaganza at Darlington College of Technology.

Lisa Riley has choreographed the show and her sister and brother, Amanda and Liam, and cousins Bradley Langstone and Lois Goddard-Langstone, are all involved.

The show, in aid of St Teresa's Hospice, in Darlington, where Mr Langstone received care, is sponsored by The Treasure Inn, in the town's Grange Road.

Children from schools across the borough are also involved, with music by boy band Panic in Style and singers Leanne Hopkins and Juned Miah.

Lisa said: "I think Granddad would be proud of us for doing this and raising money for a local charity."

Mr Langstone, who volunteered for Darlington disability group Dad and was a life-long member of the town's Harrowgate Hill Working Men's Club, died of prostate cancer when he was 58.

In his mid-40s he was told by his mother, Mary, that her husband, Oswald, was not his father. During the war she had become pregnant by a French-Canadian soldier called Joseph John Paul Martin, who was based in Middleton St George, near Darlington.

In his final years, Mr Langstone tried to find his biological father, working with Canadian agencies and appearing on television, but to no avail.

His daughter-in-law, Sarah Langstone, said while he longed to find his father he found great joy in his grandchildren.

"We were all so sad when he passed away, but I know he would be very touched by what the youngsters were doing in his memory."

Doors open at 6.30pm and tickets cost £2 for adults and £1 for children.

Published: 01/10/2004