Ed Sheeran staged an impromptu gig with Liberian children orphaned by the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak.

The Thinking Out Loud musician, 25, visited the country as part of British charity Comic Relief's fundraising efforts.

Ed sang with children living on the streets of the Liberian capital Monrovia, many of whom had lost their parents in the Ebola epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 in West Africa, and almost 5,000 in Liberia.

After meeting children helped by the Street Child of Liberia project, Ed said, "I'll never forget the kids I met on this trip, when we sang together they were in such high spirits despite everything they'd been through," he says of his visit to the country.

"It was an incredibly eye-opening experience and I'm really proud to support Comic Relief and see what they are doing to help these children have a better future."

Street Child of Liberia uses funds raised by the biannual charity event to help reunite vulnerable children with their relatives and ensure those forced to abandon their schooling can return to the classroom.

Ed's visit kicked off this year's (17) Comic Relief campaign, which will culminate in a charity telethon on 24 March (17).

Other stars involved in the Comic Relief campaign include beloved British scientist Professor Stephen Hawking, Star Wars actor Warwick Davis and Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders.

Professor Hawking has lent his distinctive voice to a character in a digital comic strip game promoting the charity.

Since being founded in 1985 by Love Actually screenwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry Comic Relief has become one of Britain's best loved charity events, with more than $1.24 billion being raised for good causes in its 32 year history.