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

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

In April, youngsters from Tubingen, southern Germany, will visit the county.

A Durham party will visit Tubingen from July 14 to 25. They will stay with families in the town. The trip costs £150 and includes air and coach travel.

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

A group of French teenagers will stay with families in County Durham from July 7 to 16, and return to the Somme with their County Durham hosts from July 17 to 27.

This trip costs £115 and includes coach and ferry travel, and an overnight stop in London so French visitors can tour the capital.

A county council spokesman said: "As well as a chance to experience a different lifestyle and culture, the visits give young people an opportunity to speak languages they are learning in a real, live setting.''

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