PUPILS donned national costumes from around the world for a party in honour of their European guests.

Staff and pupils at Greenlands Community Infant School, in South Moor, near Stanley, are taking part in the Comenius Project, run by the British Council. It enables children and staff to get in touch with communities in Norway, Malta and Portugal, as well as with children in Staunton, Gloucestershire.

The schools taking part can link into their own website and the children correspond through e-mails and postcards.

Pupils took part in Mother Nature's Workshop, where they made Easter and Christmas cards from recycled materials and sent them to their pen pals. They have also posted poems about the Stanley area on the website.

As part of the scheme, deputy headteacher Gail Wilson has visited Malta and Portugal, while two other Greenlands teachers travelled to Norway this year.

Last week, they returned the favour, entertaining staff from Norway, Malta and Staunton.

Pupils put on traditional clothes of cultures from across the globe at a party for their guests, to mark United Nations Day.

Steve Moore, Greenlands headteacher, said: "We were delighted to welcome our visitors to County Durham and hope that they enjoyed their time with us.

"The project has been a wonderful opportunity for our children to extend their knowledge of the world and to learn about the similarities and differences between their lives and the lives of children in other countries."