MORE than 50 children will sing to help a community's crusade for a new church.

Pupils from Escomb Primary School and St John's Primary School, in Shildon, will join a festival of song at Bishop Auckland Methodist Church on Friday, at 6.45pm.

The event, which includes performances from both choirs, will raise money towards the Witton Park Methodist Church building fund.

Members of the congregation have been raising money for about 18 months to fund a building to replace the village's former Methodist church, which was demolished 13 years ago because it was too big. Since then the congregation has worshipped in a room of the former train station house and, more recently, the village's community centre.

Land on the village green has been purchased for the building, and the congregation has raised £100,000 of the £250,000 it needs.

Church secretary Evelyn Swinbank said: "We are very grateful to the two school choirs, who are giving up their time to help our campaign.

"It will be a lovely night and everyone is welcome. We have also got a fair to look forward to on November 29, in the community centre, which will be opened by the Mayor of Durham Councillor Raymond Gibbon."

Tickets for Friday's event are available at the door.