STUDENTS at Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe have welcomed youngsters from Zambia as part an exchange visit.

The visiting party of 12 students and four teachers spent their first weekend settling in and getting to know their host families before singing to the local community at church.

In school they spent time in lessons working on creative writing and global issues projects as well as taking part in Sports Day.

They have also sung at the school’s Celebration of Achievement Evening, visited Taunton Museum and Vivary Park, met the Mayor and had a skittles evening in Wiveliscombe.

The Zambian Exchange Programme links Kingsmead School with Mukuba Boys’ and Helen Kaunda Girls’ Schools in Kitwe.

The visitors were also going to go to north Devon to enjoy the beach and spend a day in Bristol before heading back to Heathrow with an overnight stay in London on-route.

Kingsmead’s Zambia Link co-ordinator Graham Lewis said: “It has been fabulous seeing students from such different backgrounds coming together and forming such firm friendships in such a short space of time – friendships that will last a lifetime.

“It really highlights how much people from around the world have in common. The exchange continues to go from strength to strength.”