PUPILS at Mansfield High School in Brierfield are making friends with youngsters around the country via email.

And six year 11 students have been emailing pupils in a Mexican Secondary School as part of the Partners in School Linking Initiative which links schools in Cumbria and Lancashire with schools in Mexico.

The purpose of the project is to challenge prejudice and preconceptions about other countries while promoting citizenship within the curriculum.

It is a three-year project funded by the Department of International Development and supports British schools in making links with schools in Africa, Asia and Central and Latin America.

Headteacher Peter Dixon referred to the link as an 'exciting development'.

He said: "This is the first opportunity to forge links with Central or South America.

"The school has developed close contacts with schools in France and Germany through the Comenius Project and exchanges.

"We also have growing links with the government pilot high school in Mangla Hamlet, in Pakistan, and this linking project will extend opportunities to enrich the curriculum for all students."