YOUNGSTERS in County Durham are being given the chance to learn some of Europe's most difficult languages.

Special sessions are being held in 15 schools, organised by Durham County Council's international office, to raise awareness of the European Year of Languages.

Seventy-three schools applied to join the scheme, which will involve 450 pupils learning phrases in Russian, Swedish and Hungarian.

The county council's international officer, Brian Stobie, said: "If these taster sessions are a success, then we will consider extending them to the other schools that applied."

A council spokeswoman said: "Hungarian is recognised as one of the most difficult languages to learn. We have links with Kostroma, in Russia, and we do have a connection with Hungary, through the Somme, in France."

Three tutors have been lined up to take the sessions - Marianna Tayamonova (Russian), Klara Morvai (Hungarian) and Harriet Harnett (Swedish).

The schools learning Russian will be: Sacriston Junior School; Copelaw Road Primary School, West Auckland; St Godric's RC School, Thornley; and St Joseph's RC School, Coundon.

Those learning Hungarian will be: Crook Primary School; St Wilfrid's RC School, Bishop Auckland; Spennymoor's King Street Primary School; West Cornforth Primary School; and St Joseph's RC School, Gilesgate, Durham.

Those learning Swedish will be: Leadgate Junior School; Rosa Street Primary School, Spennymoor; Ramshaw Primary School, Evenwood; Woodlea Primary School, Fence Houses; and Consett Junior School.