A UNIVERSITY in the North-East is selling paintings to raise funds for a school in China.

Northumbria University, in Newcastle, which has links with the Nanning Vocational School, in China, has been given almost 40 paintings by the school headteacher.

The pictures, created by disabled children, will be sold at a public auction.

Neil Slater, head of Northumbria University's international office, said: "We hope that by hosting this exhibition and auction we will raise the profile of the school and help it carry on the amazing work it does.

"Northumbria is committed to education at all levels in China, with a strong network of educational links and joint programmes."

The school, in the Guang-Xi Province, uses art as a form of therapy for people with disabilities, many of whom have been abandoned by their families and by society.

Paintings being displayed include works by artists who have been blind since birth, have used their feet or mouth to paint as they have no use of their arms and by students who have mobility problems and learning difficulties.

The paintings will be exhibited at the Newcastle Arts Centre, Westgate Road, from Monday to Saturday before going to public auction in the Old Assembly Rooms, Westgate Road, on January 29. Viewing starts at 5.30pm.