A CHARITY which helps children in Africa received a visit from a local MP in support.

The One Life charity run by Elena Utton from her home in Chingford has raised has raised more than £105,000 in six years to help children, many of whom are orphaned by the Aids virus, in Kwazulu, Natal.

The charity is now trying to get a two-week holiday visa for a girl called Nokukhanya from Kwazulu, to give her an opportunity to visit England and to raise the profile of the charity by giving talks at groups and schools, some of which sponsor 225 children to be educated in Africa.

Last week, Iain Duncan Smith MP visited the charity to pledge his support to getting Nokukhanya to the UK.

Elena Utton said: "The visa application for Nokukhanya to visit here has sadly been turned down twice but a third request for a visa is now in progress and I am so grateful to The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP who visited the premises of One Life to help give more publicity to the charity and also is trying to help us obtain the visa which we so badly need.

"I am a small charity but the help we have given to the needy children in South Africa has been lifesaving for many."