The annual charity initiative, in which schools pack boxes with toys for African children, was launched yesterday at Eastfield Primary School, by Northampton North MP Sally Keeble.

Some of the gift boxes will go to Zimbabwe and Year Six pupil Lizzy, 10, said: "I'm going to take part because I would like to help children in Africa, because I know how much they suffer.

"When I was a little girl, I used to get presents from other places and I think it's a really good idea to send nice toys from children in Northampton."

Mrs Keeble visited the school in St Alban's Close to launch the annual Schools For Africa scheme, which is now in its fourth year.

She spoke at assembly, to explain why the scheme was important and tell pupils about two ways they could get involved.

Children can either prepare boxes to be sent to Africa or donate £2.10, which feeds a child for a week and is known as the school meal deal.

She said: "This is the only thing some of these children will ever be given.

"It's fantastic to see the boxes when the children get them and open them. It's the children of Northampton who are helping the children in Africa."

She added: "There is always a big demand for the boxes, so we have a limit on. But everybody is welcome to take part in the school meal deal.

"About 42,000 children die every day because they don't have enough food, or because they're ill because of that. That's a huge number of children."

Mrs Keeble said children in the UK learned a lot from taking part in the scheme. About 25 schools in Northampton and 70 nationally take part in Schools For Africa.

Lizzy's classmate, James, also 10, said: "I think it's a good idea and a nice thing to do."

Chris Hill, the headteacher at Eastfield Primary School, said: "Most of the children will be very enthusiastic about filling the boxes.

"It helps raise their cultural awareness and we're a multicultural school, so we're pleased to be involved."