THE visit by students to their 'twin' college in the USA has been hailed a success.

The main reason for the exchange trip was to allow the youngsters from Redcar and Cleveland College to study for a City and Guilds certificate in Robotics at the Cleveland State Community College's well-equipped laboratories and classrooms in Tennessee. The students sampled family life in America first hand as they were hosted by local families and visited a Coca-Cola bottling plant which has links to their course.

They also visited the Olympic white water course in Atlanta and sampled some real country music at the Mountain Opry in Chattanooga. The course ended with a hike and an overnight stay in a log cabin in the wilds of the Cumberland Plateau.

The students took a plaque to commemorate five years of successful partnership with the American college.

Tutor Neil Walker said: "Once again our students gained a great deal from the American experience, not only in the education field but also socially and culturally. Each reached the desired standard for City and Guilds and received a Cleveland State certificate of achievement which was presented to them by Dr Carl Hite, president of the college.