TEACHERS from Russia have proved a big hit with pupils across the North-East.

Fifteen students from Kostroma, a city which has forged strong links with County Durham, have been working in schools, mainly primaries, for four days.

One of the teachers, Viktoria Kozyreva, has spent a week at Aycliffe Village Primary School, County Durham, taking lessons and teaching children about her country's culture.

She has taken classes from reception year upwards and has also been learning some English nursery rhymes.

Headteacher Jo Clarke said: "We've had a marvellous time. Viktoria's been an asset to the school.

"She's had a wonderful time herself and I don't think she wants to go home. She has been brilliant."

Parents and local education authority officials were invited to the school on Friday for a special assembly to round off Miss Kozyreva's visit, which also gave the children a chance to show off their new skills.

The rest of the teachers were posted across County Durham, Sunderland and Darlington, where they have been telling youngsters Russian folk tales, life in the country and teaching simple words and phrases in Russian.

Staff from three primary schools in County Durham have been to Russia to set up a partnership with schools, while Durham Trinity School has set up a link there with young disabled people.

Teachers from Kostroma, who are training to teach English, also visited County Durham earlier this year and seven North-East teachers have been to Russia recently.

Other schools to receive visits were in Durham, Darlington, Chester-le-Street, Crook, Sunderland, Barnard Castle and Spennymoor.