YOUNG people from one of the poorest areas of South Africa played a 'moving' concert to a packed Oxford church.

The group from the rural community of Hamburg in Eastern Cape performed at St Andrew's Church in North Oxford on Thursday as part of an eight-day tour of the UK.

It was organised by The Keiskamma Trust which supports children from the area through music, art, health and education programmes to boost their life skills and employment chances.

The charity's founder, Carol Hofmeyr, said: "It was remarkable to see these young people from such a far away, isolated place playing so sophisticatedly to an Oxford audience.

"They were very moved to be so warmly accepted especially when they played African music and jazz.

"The church was full as well which was amazing and just shows the friendships and connections we have made here."

Mrs Hofmeyr arranged the Oxford leg of the journey through friends she made when visiting the city with her husband, for his medical research, in the 1980s and was delighted with the full house at the church.

The group rounded off their UK tour by putting on a musical workshop at New College School yesterday morning.