CHILDREN at a Darlington school celebrated the harvest festival by collecting hundreds of food tins for the Salvation Army.

Pupils at Red Hall Primary School, in Headingley Crescent, Darlington, brought tinned and fresh fruit and vegetables from their homes to help the charity.

Captain Stuart Crane, from Darlington's Salvation Army branch, visited the school yesterday during the harvest festival assembly to collect the gifts.

Teacher Rachel Hudson said: "It was a brilliant effort from both the children and the community and we are very grateful. We even had a box of prize fruit and vegetables donated."

Children read poems and bible excerpts at the harvest festival assembly, before presenting the gifts to Capt Crane.