A group of Palestinian teenagers have visited Blackburn Town Hall as part to a nationwide tour which also took in Pendle.

The delegation of seven youngsters from the West Bank, aged 13 to 16, visited met Blackburn with Darwen's mayor Cllr Brian Taylor, as part of a two-week goodwill trip to the UK.

The young people were welcomed into the mayor’s parlour and shown round the 172-year-old Council Chambers.

Cllr Taylor said: "It was a privilege and a pleasure to meet them.

"They seemed to be enjoying their visit to Blackburn with Darwen.

"The young people were very welcome in out borough and seemed very interested to learn about its political processes,"

For most of the seven youngsters this was the first experience of travel abroad.

The visit, facilitated by Youth Action, is part of the Building Hope/Voices from Palestine project led by human rights charity CADFA.

The young people also visited Pendle for a "Curry on the Street" event in Railway Road, Nelson, and attended a Palestine Solidarity evening at the Ivy Venue in Newton Street, Blackburn, during a nationwide tour.

Nandita Dowson, director of CADFA, said: "These are wonderful, exciting visits that are very good for young people in both countries,

“They build understanding and interest and help young people here to learn the importance of human rights."