A DEBUT trip to visit Warrington's new partner town in Africa is taking place this week.

The borough is now linked with Mwanza, in Tanzania, and a delegation of youth workers and teachers is currently spending time in the town.

The partnership was set up after Conservative councillor Fiona Bruce made a visit to Africa.

She says the agreement will not only provide grassroots support but allow people in Warrington the chance to learn from another, very different culture.

She added: "One of the key aims of this trip is to pave the way for future visits involving Warrington school pupils, as well as teachers and youth workers.

"This pioneer team plans to find out how young people from Warrington can visit Mwanza and make a positive difference there, while at the same time learning about another culture first hand."

The group, including teachers from Penketh High School, William Beamont High School, in Orford, and Sir Thomas Boteler High School, in Latchford, will visit, teach and work in a number of schools in Mwanza.

They will share their skills, which range from drama, music and sports to history, geography and RE. While there they also plan to meet with community groups to learn about life in Mwanza, visit farming projects to broaden our town's knowledge about Fair Trade, broadcast interviews with the Mwanza English language radio station and carry out some Aids awareness sessions.

There will even be time for a short safari to the Serengeti on their day off.