THE Tees Valley World Drummers were beating to a new rhythm yesterday when they took delivery of some African drums.

Drumz, as the group will be known, received the £2,600 worth of fairly-traded kit thanks to funding from the Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Support Fund, which handed over £6,500 to get the project up and running.

The group is also waiting for the arrival of £1,400-worth of samba drums, which are being sent from Brazil.

The project is designed to unite many of the diverse communities in the area, as well as teaching people to play the drums.

Hilaire Agnama, the group's chairman, said: "We hope this project will help to strengthen cultural diversity and develop more cohesive communities.

"We will teach people various drumming techniques so that we can perform at events, run drumming workshops in schools and with community groups."

Drumz makes its debut at the refugee week event, at Stockton's Preston Park, on Saturday, June 18.