YOUNGSTERS from Blackburn took part in a survey which revealed 80 per cent of British schoolchildren want to turn their back on Europe.

A group of around 25 pupils aged between 10 and 16 were among 800 questioned by fax and photocopier company Gestetner and 79 per cent said Europe should never become one nation.

The survey also revealed that eight in ten youngsters still associate Germany with the Second World War, four in ten believe America is part of Europe and 47 per cent think of frogs' legs and snails when anyone mentions France.

And while half of the children believed there should be a single European language, 90 per cent said it should be English.

But they said the results "indicate the need for British children to communicate more with their European cousins if the European Union is to work in the future."

Gestetner is providing free fax machines to schools through its Faxes For Kids Scheme, in a bid to help youngsters improve their links with schools elsewhere in Europe.

The initiative involves businesses donating their old fax machines when they are replaced.

Throughout this year the company will collect donated fax machines, service them and deliver them to schools.

Businesses willing to donated a machine are asked to call 0990 143157 and schools who want to register are asked to send an A4 S.A.E. to the Faxes For Kids Scheme, 4 Rushmills, Northampton, NN4 7YB.

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