A FOREIGN visitor has travelled from the Caribbean to study locally with help from Rotary clubs in the area.

Shaniek Parks, 23, of the Rotaract club of Montego Bay, Jamaica, is in the region visiting local Rotary clubs She is a guest of the Roundhay Rotary Club, Leeds, and she is in the area as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar.

She goes to Leeds University as a post graduate student studying for an MA in International Communications.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships were founded in 1947 and since then more than 40,000 men and women from over 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices.

During her stay she is being hosted by Roundhay Rotary club members and their families until September.

Thirsk Rotary Club President Alistair Ratcliffe welcomed the visitor to Thirsk where members heard a talk about Jamaica.

A Thirsk Rotary spokesman said: "She was dressed in beautiful traditional Jamaican attire.

"She gave the Thirsk Rotary members an illustrated talk about herself, her academic study programme and Jamaican culture."

During her stay visits are been made to Rotary clubs to promote the work of the Rotary Foundation Charity which funds the Ambassadorial Scholars programme.