The harrowing sight of 13-year-old Hector Peterson's dying body proved a defining image for anti-apartheid protesters.

Now, 26 years on, Sussex schoolchildren are proving the tragedy still powerfully moves today's generations.

A school choir from Brambletye School in East Grinstead has joined voices with visiting children from South Africa.

They have been performing a South African cantata telling the story of the march by more than 6,000 schoolchildren through Soweto on June 6, 1976.

The students were protesting about being forced to learn Afrikaans instead of English.

Afrikaans was seen as the language of the oppressor state - the ruling National Party.

Tragedy struck when police opened fire on the students. Hector was the first to be killed.

A photograph showing his fatally-wounded body being carried from the scene horrified people across the world.

The shootings were followed by 14 years of violence in the country.

John Gowers, musical director at Brambletye, was inspired to write the cantata after taking his choir to Soweto in April last year.

The musical, called Inzima Lendlela (This Road Is Heavy), is a tribute to the courage of those who fought against apartheid.

The performance combines Mr Gowers' music, traditional African songs and sketches based on witness accounts from 1976.

Mr Gowers said: "I have been fascinated by how the African children appear to relive the experiences.

"It's been a very eye-opening experience. Many students knew nothing about apartheid before we went to South Africa.

"Between rehearsals this week we had big games of football and netball. The pupils got on as if they had known each other all their lives."

Mr Gowers wrote the music last November, inspired by the poetry of Nigerian writer Ben Okri.

Shoreham-born singer Leo Sayer will perform with the 36-strong joint choir when they perform at the Royal Opera House in London tomorrow.

The South African visitors are from the Sparrow Schools Foundation in Johannesburg.

The cantata project was awarded a National Lottery grant of £5,000. Ticket prices include donations to Sparrow Schools.

The first performance of the cantata was staged at the Chequers Mead Arts Centre in East Grinstead last night.