CHILDREN at St Mary's Primary School in Kingswinford celebrated the opening of a new African-themed garden inspired by their links with Tanzania.

Rakshita Vaya, headteacher of Shree Hindu Mandal School in Dar Es Salaam, and her deputy head Moza Khatib flew over from Tanzania especially for the opening of the garden which has been created in a disused space in the school's key stage one area.

St Mary's has forged links with the Shree Hindu Mandal School over the last two years - with Kingswinford youngsters often sending work, photographs and gifts to children at the African school.

The garden, which was officially opened by the African guests, has been developed as part of a Royal Horticultural Society gardening project to enable the school to grow its own fruit and vegetables, flowers and herbs.

The site has also become home to three chickens - Noodles, Angel and Rocky - and includes an African-style hut as a reading area.

Councillor Peter Miller and his wife Hilary (the former Mayor and Mayoress of Dudley) attended the official unveiling and welcome service, along with representatives from Worcester Diocese, West Midlands Police and Morrisons supermarket.