YOUNGSTERS from Romania have been getting a first-hand taste of what life is like in an East Lancashire school.

A party of eight teenagers from Eastern Europe are staying with families in the Rishton area and have spent several days at Norden High School.

The visitors have also been visiting tourist attractions across the North West including York and the Lake District. The Romanians were put in touch with Norden High School with the help of Blackburn Cyclists' Touring Club who travelled to the former Soviet Bloc country earlier this year.

Norden teacher David Brayley-Willmetts has helped organise the visit. He said: "We wrote to all the families of pupils at the school explaining these children were coming and had nowhere to stay.

"We had no problems finding places for these youngsters, the response was marvellous."

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