A GROUP from Chester-le-Street are brushing up on their German for a week-long visit to its twin town.

Twenty five members of the town's twinning association are travelling to Kamp-Lintfort, a mining town 60 miles north of Dusseldorf, in northern Germany.

While staying with German families they will enjoy a cruise on the Rhine and a visit to the Ruhr area.

As part of the group's visit, which takes place every two years, they will also donate money to a local centre for young women with learning disabilities.

Edna Sanderson, the group's secretary, said: "Kamp-Lintfort is a mining town that has suffered in recent years, so there are similarities with Chester-le-Street.

"They have a similar group who come and stay with us every other year as well."

The group fly to Germany on Thursday, May 24.