CHILDREN at a Darlington school have been learning to play an unusual musical instrument in a series of workshops.

Mike Fenton, an expert on the autoharp, has been teaching pupils at Abbey infant and junior schools how to play the instrument.

Mr Fenton, who has been elected to the American Autoharp Hall of Fame, was working with junior school children on Tuesday and Wednesday and at the infant school yesterday and today.

A concert was held last night for parents and friends, in which junior school pupils performed alongside Mr Fenton.

Infant school headteacher Elaine McCue said: "Mike tours the country and he is very famous in autoharp circles.

"He has a great rapport with the children and it really brings the music curriculum to life."

She said: "We start off with a concert in the morning when Mike sings and plays other instruments, then the children try the songs and really have a good time.

"All the children in the school will have played the autoharp by the time Mike has finished. It has been a great success."