CHILDREN from seven schools cheered up rain- soaked shoppers yesterday when they added the rhythmic samba beat to a colourful carnival parade.

A morning downpour failed to dampen the spirits of the dozens of youngsters who danced and sang their way through the centre of Crook, County Durham.

The parade followed a series of workshops held in the schools over the past few weeks, and many of the children and staff had made their own costumes and musical instruments.

Music tutor Emily Feldberg has taught Samba rhythms to youngsters from Crook Primary School, Crook Nursery, St Wilfrid's RC Primary, in Bishop Auckland, Oakley Cross Primary, in West Auckland, Howden-le-Wear Primary, Peases West Primary and Woodhouse Close Infants.

Their procession started at Glenholme Leisure Complex and paused for a few minutes outside County Durham's Bradbury House Cheshire Home, before joining up with the rest of the pupils at Crook Primary.

A planned picnic on the school field had to be cancelled due to the weather, but visiting groups celebrated in the hall.

Drummer Connor Roderick, aged eight, from Oakley Cross, didn't mind the weather. He said: "It was just a bit of rain. It didn't make any difference - we all had a good time."

Organiser Nicki Gott said: "We had 500 children altogether and the rain didn't dampen their spirits one bit. They all turned out in fabulous costumes and put such a lot of thought and work into them."