A TEENAGER travelled 130 miles for a reunion with her Hungarian dancer friend at an international arts festival in the North-East.

Rachel Beezley, 14, and Barbara Pesti, 13, who is with a Hungarian children's folklore group at the Billingham International Folklore Festival, first met in 1998 when Barbara came to England on a school music exchange and stayed with Rachel's family in Billingham.

Rachel then made a reciprocal visit when she stayed with Barbara's family when her Billingham school St Michael's visited Budapest.

Rachel has since moved to Lancashire and the girls keep in touch via e-mail. They have also been learning each other's languages.

So, when she knew her friend was coming with the dance group Csillagszemu on a 36-hour coach trip to the festival, the least she could do was travel from Leyland, in Lancashire, to be reunited.

l Talented Israeli youngster Rona Ne'eman has just made a big impact at the festival, then has had to return home.

Rona, 12, was summoned from Billingham to fly back to her homeland yesterday.

The multi-skilled dancer's ability mean she is not only in demand in the North-East's annual festival, but her gymnastic expertise is captivating television audiences in Israel.

The early exit from the UK ensures she appears in a popular television game show broadcast world-wide.

Television appearances in the show Bravo could propel her to stardom as a gymnast if she makes it through the next national heat.

Rona has been a gymnast since she was five, but she also dances in her mother's troupe Karmei Rishon.