AMID soaring temperatures, a corner of Teesside reverberated to a South American rhythm yesterday.

The Riverside stadium, in Middlesbrough, rang to Samba rhythms as 380 children from 11 Middlesbrough and east Cleveland primary schools played music on surdos and shakers. The performance was the result of nine months of preparation, through workshops and rehearsals, for the fourth annual Samba Extravaganza. The children were coached by percussionist Simone Rebello.