EXCITED children from Tockington Manor School were delighted to welcome some very special guests to their school.

Mrs Kim Simplis-Barrow, the first lady of Belize was joined by Ms Perla Pedomo, the Belizean high commissioner at the school on Wednesday, October 1.

They were in the country to promote Mrs Simplis-Barrow’s charity, the Belize children’s Trust which held its annual fundraising gala at Old Down Manor later in the day.

The Trust is helping to fund the construction of a new ward at the country's main hospital which will provide additional care and services for children in the country.

The children were very keen to learn about the charity but also about Belize itself and had prepared Belizean flags during lessons to welcome their special guests.

The Central American country is the only country in the region with English as its official language and was a part of the British Empire until 1973 - under the name British Honduras.

It has a population smaller than Bristol but maintains strong ties with the UK through the Commonwealth - which it is a member of.

On their arrival they were greeted by children from all the school's year group who presented them with flowers.

The school’s headmaster, Stephen Symonds, said: “It is sometimes hard for children living in England to fully appreciate the needs of other children around the world.

“As a small country Belize is doing all it can but expertise in medicine, neurosurgery and education is vital for the children within Belize to get the support and care they need and this is why Tockington Manor is keen to help promote this very worthwhile cause”.

After being introduced to some of the school’s children Mrs Simplis-Barrow and Ms Pedomo thanked the children for the warm welcome they were greeted with and added that they look forward to returning to the school at a later date.