AN international peace charity with strong links to the county was launched in London on Tuesday.

Children for Peace is a multi-faith charity with the objective of working with children and young people to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Its chairman is Richard Martin, a 58-year-old Hereford businessman, and another of the trustees in Virginia Taylor, who lives in Byford.

Mr Martin said: "We'll work by building understanding between children and young people."

He said although his marketing consultancy worked overseas, it had no links with the Middle East and he had never personally visited that part of the world.

"I was born in 1948 when the state of Israel was created and ever since that time, there has been conflict in this part of the world.

"Children of Peace hopes to be regarded as a fresh approach to conflict resolution in a region that has existed as a war zone for much of the past 60 years.

"Generations of children in both communities have been traumatised, stressed or bereaved."

The charity is already funding two twinned schools - one in Bethlehem, in the Palestinian Authority, and the other in Yeruham, in Southern Israel.

A total of 120 children receive classes in English, Hebrew, Arabic, mathematics, peace studies, computer studies and sports training.

They also play together in "children of peace" football teams.

Central to the success of the charity will be working closely with Israeli and Palestinian community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations with shared programmes designed to respect the traditions, values and customs of both communities.

Mr Martin said that although the charity was international, its links with Herefordshire was very significant.

"Since moving to Herefordshire, I have found it a very spiritual and welcoming place to live and work. We are an international charity but I live in the county and so does Virginia, so it has a Herefordshire influence."

More information about the charity is available by visiting www.childrenofpeace.org.uk