AN American choir has made an emotional return to the North-East 350 years after its members' ancestors left the region to start a new life across the Atlantic.

Members of the Second Congregational Church Youth Choir, from Greenwich, Connecticut, agreed to take time out of their tour of Britain to appear at St Peter's Church, in Cleasby, near Darlington.

The extra date was added to fulfil an ambition of Vanessa Robinson, who is a 14th generation descendant of one of several Robinsons from Cleasby who emigrated to America in 1650.

The 15-year-old had always wanted to perform at St Peter's Church, and she was joined by her parents, Mickey and Catherine, who sang alongside their daughter.

The Robinsons' family origins in Cleasby go back even further to the time of George and William Robinson, two of the sons of the Reverend John Robinson, who was born in nearby Romaldkirk in 1550.

A century later, the Robinsons of Cleasby moved to America to build a new life as colonists and went on to establish themselves in business and commerce.

Other famous Robinsons include John Robinson, who was the Ambassador to Sweden in 1683 and later the Bishop of London in 1714.

To mark the visit, members of Cleasby church choir joined the US party, singing traditional English hymns including Jerusalem, as well as American folk hymns and psalms.

David Carter, chairman of Cleasby Village Hall Association, said: "It was a wonderful event, and it was especially moving for the Robinsons to fulfil their ambition of performing in the same village as their ancestors would have worshipped and sung."