PUPILS at Newent Community School have almost completed a £38,000 fundraising drive to pay for a visit by Kenyan students and a return visit by local teenagers in June.

Trouble with visas meant the visitors arrived seven days later than expected last week.

The party, from the link school of St George's in Kenya, finally arrived in Newent on Wednesday for a welcoming reception in the library.

The high school's Kenyan link organiser, Caroline Smith, said that local MP Mark Harper, a former governor of the school, had been helpful in sorting out visa difficulties.

On Thursday, the visiting group of six students and two teachers - David Oboge and Penina Onyango - enjoyed a special arts day.

On Friday, Newent and Kenyan students sang together in the school hall, with a special performance evening on Saturday featuring poetry, dance and music from both the UK and Africa.

This week, the visitors have enjoyed a trip to London and Gloucester Cathedral. At the end of June, a party of nine Newent students will visit Kenya.

The link project has been made possible with a £13,000 grant from the British Council, plus local fundraising.

In two weeks time, the Kenyan party will go back with a gift of 30 recorders, while the Newent party will take books and other resources to help establish a school library at St George's.

A car boot sale to raise money for the visit takes place at Newent Community School on Sunday, April 2, 9am to noon.