SECURITY fears have led to the United Nations pulling out of a project to bring a group of disadvantaged schoolchildren from Malmesbury, South Africa, to their English namesake town.

Nine youngsters, aged between 11 and 13, were due to make the week-long trip in October.

However, the UN has withheld their £2,000 grant for the scheme as they feel the children's safety cannot be guaranteed with the current increased threat levels in the UK.

As a result of the decision, the children will not be able to make the journey.

The four schools involved were the Christian Private School, Riversdale, Chatworth and Napikadi.

Town councillor Ray Sanderson has spearheaded the project.

He said it was desperately disappointing for everyone involved to hear the news.

"I can see where they are coming from, but we are very disappointed," he said.

"The United Nations were going to fund part of it as a cultural grant, but when they went to get the money they said the terrorist threat was too high to send the children and they were not backing it.

"It was the United Nations who actually pulled the plug on it.

"We were 99.9 per cent there with the organisation of it, but without this £2,000 they can't come over.

"Apparently lots of people are cancelling trips over from South Africa.

"There's nothing we can do about it, but we are disappointed.

"It's been planned for about a year and a lot of people have put a lot of time and effort into making it possible, but it's just one of those things."

The children hope to be able to rearrange their visit for some time next year.

Organisers have pencilled in next February as a possible date to make another attempt.

"When the United Nations gives them the green light on security being back to normal they will be able to come over," added Coun Sanderson.

"On the upside, ten kids from Malmesbury School are going over there in December, so at least we haven't broken the link."

As a result of fundraising efforts over the last year, nearly £3,500 has been raised.

Coun Sanderson said they would push ahead with the remaining events to make sure everything was in place to reorganise the visit.

A charity auction will be held at the Red Bull on Saturday, September 9, from 8.30pm. On October 6, the Mangled Wurzels will play at the Red Bull.

Tickets are available from the pub, or from Coun Sanderson on (07710) 082085.