A DELEGATION from the Chinese embassy paid a visit to the North-East yesterday, where students have been taking part in a pilot cultural project.

The Chinese cultural and education officers travelled from London to Consett, where they gave a talk to pupils aged 14 to 16 and viewed artwork produced during some Chinese art workshops.

Artist Chun-Chao spent three days at each of five Derwentside schools, working with children from nursery to GCSE level in watercolour painting, opera mask painting and lantern making.

The workshops were funded through Northern Arts as a pilot project that will take place later, throughout the region.

It was co-ordinated by Consett Junior School headteacher David Yates, who was approached by the Chinese Association North East Region to co-ordinate the project after a chance meeting in a Chinese take-away.