The young people were visiting Mearns Academy, a school which has supported their orphanage for a number of years through the charity Kids in Action.

With the help of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Robert Smith, the young people who lived at the orphanage and are now working there or at college, paid a visit to Aberdeenshire and were delighted to visit the school which has done so much to support them.

Sir Robert and the children talked to pupils and staff and met members of the charities group headed by Lorraine Francis.

Sir Robert said " It was great to see the pupils who have been fundraising meet with some of those who have benefited from Mearns Academy's commitment over the last 10 years. There was a great atmosphere as the two groups exchanges their views on each other's different education systems and culture."

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Education, Learning and Leisure Committee, Richard Stroud, said: "We are delighted to welcome our visitors from Sierra Leone and hope they enjoy their stay in Aberdeenshire.

"The pupils at Mearns Academy have been looking forward to meeting the children and young people they have been supporting through the Kids in Action Charity."

Vice-chair of the committee, Isobel Davidson, added: "The pupils, parents and staff at Mearns Academy should be extremely proud of all the support they've given to the orphanage in Sierra Leone.

"To see that the children who stayed there have been able to find employment and access further education shows what can be achieved when suitable funding and support is made available to those in need."