WE love St Helens... that was the unanimous verdict on our town from a visiting party of French students.

The teenagers from Northern France were staying in St Helens as they spent a week as guests of Cowley Language College, thanks to a pioneering project, claimed to be unique to St Helens.

Lindisfarne House, where pupils and teachers from Lyce De L'Authie stayed during their visit to the town provides low cost accommodation for national and international school exchanges as well as students and amateur sports groups.

According to its project manager Keith Deakin, Lindisfarne House, at St Cuthbert's School, is rare: "As far as I know it is unique in Britain," he said: "I am quite confident that it will be a success and I would like to see a network of Lindisfarnes across the country."

Keith who is councillor for Newton West added that it also helps finance education and training in St Helens.

The exchange was set up when representatives from Lyce De L'Authie, in the rural town of Doullens, in Somme region, met Cowley teacher Ann Bradshaw at a conference in Paris.

Teacher Benedicte Helluin was keen to emphasise the educational aspect of the trip: "It is a chance to communicate between two towns, to share experiences. It is basically to discover a new way of life." She was also very impressed with the redevelopment of derelict buildings in the town into places of interest such as The World of Glass.

Displaying an impressive grasp of English, the pupils seemed genuinely impressed with St Helens life.

Sixteen-year-old Louis Bacquet was complementary of St Helens townsfolk: "I think they are very nice because they will come up to me and say hello. English people are not what they are on television."

Ambitious Camille Destres, who is also 16, wants to eventually become a doctor. She also warmed to the nature of the people in the town. "I like this town. It is different from where we live. The school is different and the lessons interesting."

Pupils and teachers have forged close friendships which they intend to maintain back home.

Benedicte was aware of the importance of the trip and what both schools could learn from one another: "We meet the same difficulties and we like the same things. It is a nice combination of differences and similarities."