COUNTY Durham youngsters are being offered the chance to sample continental life.

Durham County Council's international office is organising exchange visits to France and Germany next year, for 14 to 18-year-olds.

In April, youngsters from Tubingen in southern Germany, will visit the county, and a Durham party will visit Tubingen from July 14 to 25. The trip costs £150.

The second exchange visit is with the Department of the Somme in northern France.

French teenagers will stay with families in County Durham from July 7 to 16 and then return to the Somme with their County Durham hosts from July 17 to 27. This trip costs £115.

For details, call the county council's international office on 0191-383 3358 or visit the council's website at www.durham.gov.uk