EUROPE Day celebrations took on a World Cup flavour in Durham yesterday.

More than 250 young people from 25 schools across the area descended on Durham County Council's headquarters to take part in workshops on German art and fairy tales, making traditional German food and learning a little of the language.

"As the World Cup is being played in Germany in a few weeks, it seemed appropriate to have a German theme to our Europe Day celebrations,'' said Brian Stobie, the county council's international relations officer.

A German accordion player added a musical note to the day and the youngsters taking part wore traditional German costumes.

They were also given the chance to pick up some of the German language through songs and stories in a workshop based on Grimm's fairy tales.

Mr Stobie said: "Representatives from the German Embassy showed off a new website they have developed for children and there was also an opportunity for those taking part to make a typical German mid-morning school snack.''

The event was opened by Euro MP Stephen Hughes.