SANTA and his sleigh could be heard over Suffolk as they made a surprise early visit to meet children who are recording a special CD for charity.There may still be 80 shopping days to Christmas, but the festive season was very much in the minds of the hundreds of youngsters recording tracks for the album, called 4un2us.

By Richard Cornwell

SANTA and his sleigh could be heard over Suffolk as they made a surprise early visit to meet children who are recording a special CD for charity.

There may still be 80 shopping days to Christmas, but the festive season was very much in the minds of the hundreds of youngsters recording tracks for the album, called 4un2us.

In the next few days, around 1,500 children from infant and junior schools in Felixstowe, Woodbridge and Ipswich will be taking part in recording sessions for the project.

On Saturday, children gathered at Trimley St Martin Primary to add their voices to pre-recorded backing tracks, and also take part in filming special fun Christmas scenes, including riding on Santa's sleigh.

The 4un2us project is Christianity in action and is being run by a team drawn from Felixstowe churches to raise cash for Christian aid agency Tearfund.

Three previous projects – Countdown for the King, Let the Bells Ring Out and Heaven Invites You to a Party – raised more than £15,000 for the charity.

This year's venture features not only the interactive CD-ROM – 20 music tracks, plus puzzles, games and fun worksheets – but a music video, and three concerts at the Spa Pavilion with Simon Thomas from BBC's Blue Peter.

The video has included filming with children at a number of places, including Landguard Fort, the Spa gardens and seafront, and a farm at Falkenham.

The CD, which includes Mary's Boy Child, Saviour's Day, 4un2us a Child is Born, Infant Holy, Light of the world, and the Calypso carol, will be released on November 30 and be available from several stores, including Woolworths.

Project leader Andy Rayner said: "The project has several aims, including providing a creative focus for schools leading up to Christmas.

"But we also wanted to provide a unifying focus for children at all primary, junior and infants schools in the Felixstowe area, and this time we have included 12 satellite areas in Ipswich and Woodbridge."

It was hoped the project would also raise money for Tearfund's work with third world children, create a resource for schools – and allow the children a way to express themselves and have fun.

WEBLINK: www.4un2us.org.uk