Pupils thank benefactor in song

Martha Payne, nine, has travelled to the African country with her family to meet the children and see how money she raised for the Mary’s Meals charity is aiding the youngsters.

Donations to her JustGiving site flooded in after she was banned by her council from photographing and writing about her school meals in Lochgilphead, Argyll and Bute, on her NeverSeconds blog.

Argyll and Bute Council backtracked after a backlash. Donations total about £115,000, enough to build a kitchen shelter at Lirangwe School in Blantyre, Malawi, and give children a daily meal for a year.