A GROUP of globetrotting students from around Lancashire have jetted off on a trip of a lifetime after scooping a prestigious scholarship.

The nine teenagers are spending two weeks in Guatemala, Central America, as part of the Daniel Thwaites Scholarship programme.

The brewery-sponsored scheme, now in its 38th year, is run in conjunction with the Centro de Estudios Internacionales. It aims to give students the opportunity to experience other cultures first hand by living with families in countries around the world.

The young travellers, who were chosen by the Mayors of their towns, will spend five days in La Antigua before moving on to Coban. They will end their trip in the capital Guatemala City. The group is made up of leader Susan Clark, a teacher at St Mary's College, Blackburn; Michael Edmondson, 17, of Blackburn College; Rachel Norris, 18, of St Mary's College; Helen Kiernan, 17, of Clitheroe Royal Grammar School; Andrew Woodworth, 17, of Holy Cross College, Bury; Clare Hobley, 18, of Burnley College; Hazel Everard, 17, of Lancaster Girls' Grammar School; Joanne Noblet, 18, Preston College; Tim Vickers, 17, Blackpool Sixth Form College and Carl Stevenson, 18, of Accrington and Rossendale College.

Zaquir Patel, of Lancashire Education Service's Blackburn office, and Thwaites company secretary Winston Pickup were on hand to wish them good luck when they set off.

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