AN international kite-flying expert has visited Barnard Castle Rotary Club. George Webster has judged kite flying contests all over the world and is involved in the annual Teesdale Kite Festival.
Mr Webster told members about the passion for kite flying in India and Pakistan, where contests involve fighting kites, and where contestants try to fly their kites into each other. Kite flying is also popular in the Far East - China, Japan, Korea and Malaysia in particular - and kite sizes vary from two-inch creations, to huge models that need more than the strength of one man to keep them under control.
Some are capable of being flown up to 3,000ft, but not in the UK where there is a lower high limit due to aircraft movements.
Rotary members were able to look at a variety of kites that Mr Webster had collected on his travels.
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