KNITTED bears will be sold at this year's Three Counties Show to raise funds for a programme to build schools in Africa.

The Burundi Bears are helping to raise money to build and equip schools in the African country Burundi, through the charity Facilitaid.

Chairman Gren Burgess said: "As part of our fund-raising, we run a programme entitled Brick-by-Brick in which we offer UK schoolchildren a chance to be involved in providing schools in Africa. The programme principally uses a small knitted bear - the Burundi Bear - to bring the programme to each individual.

"The Burundi Bears are offered in exchange for a gift of £1 and that £1 buys and builds four bricks into a school in Burundi."

Women's Institutes across the country, including in Worcestershire, have been involved in knitting the bars.

They are normally only offered to schoolchildren but the bears are now being offered to members of the public at the Malvern showground next weekend.

The charity provides participating schools with a resource pack for use in their school lessons, so the children can learn about Burundi, as well as a supply of bears.

Children are also encouraged to take part in other activities, such as non-uniform days and sponsored events.

The school is then kept abreast of the building work by being sent a certificate showing how many bricks their efforts have paid for. For more information visit www.facilitaid.com