THERE'S no such thing as a language barrier when it comes to Esperanto.

And a group of young teenagers from the Czech Republic have just proved the point to schoolchildren in Barnoldswick.

The teenage girls, their teacher and her grandson, were the guests of Esperanto enthusiast Edith Sheldrick, of Denton Street as part of a cultural visit and they called in at York Street primary school and West Craven High School to say hello. They also visited the new council shop in the centre of town.

Mrs Sheldrick said: "I'm no expert but it is easy to learn, and I had never learned a language before.

"It's used all around the world and creates strong links between friends and families.

"There are lots of familiar words and it's Latin-based. It really is an ideal absorbing hobby where you make friends around the world just by sending a few words on a postcard.

"No matter where people come from they can understand each other."

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