THE fight to eradicate world poverty has brought out a creative, campaigning streak in children at a North-East primary school.

Youngsters from St Mary's RC in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, decided to make a graphic statement in an attempt to help rid Africa of its financial burden.

With many pupils already wearing wristbands in support of the Make Poverty History campaign, year six students decided to take the idea further.

They created their own map of the continent and got all the youngsters at the school to sign it in support.

Year six teacher Lisa Machin said: "The children decided to make the map as part of the Make Poverty History drive.

"There was a group who wanted to do something and make a statement.

"They just felt really privileged with what they have got. The children even wrote a song about the situation.

"The idea for the map was all their own and they got all 171 children at the school to sign it in support."