THE importance of giving was the moral message behind a Christmas performance at a County Durham School.

Pre-preparatory children at Barnard Castle School rehearsed for a month for yesterday's performance of Scarecrow's Christmas.

Aged four to seven, 41 children performed in front of their family and friends in the school chapel.

The musical tells the tale of a scarecrow who is constantly cold because he gives his clothes away to others.

Teacher Penny Honess, who produced the show with colleagues Jane Tulip and Kathryn Brown, said: "We are trying to instill in the children that this time of year is about giving with no advantage to themselves, not about who gets the biggest presents."