THE traditions of African culture were brought to life for primary school children through the latest in visual communications technology.

Using video conferencing storyteller Malcolm Green shared his tales of Africa with more than 100 children from eight primary schools and a nursery in south Durham.

Mr Green spent the day at Parkside Comprehensive School, Willington, yesterday, where he was joined by children from Our Lady and St Thomas School, Willington Primary and Willington CE Primary while pupils from St Cuthberts Primary, Crook, Crook Primary, Sunnybrow, Whitworth, Hartside and Crook Nursery tuned in via video link.

The schools are forging links with their counterparts in Tanzania and the story sessions were a way of teaching the children about African culture.

The schools are also part of Department for Education and Skills project to see if video conferencing could hold the attention of young children.

James Keen, from Direct Visual, which provided the video conferencing equipment, said: "The whole event was really well organised and Malcolm Green was absolutely superb."