MORE than 30 Chinese children got a taste of life in Waltham Forest when they visited a school as part of a cultural exchange programme.

The delegation of 12-year-olds - and their teachers - came as the guests of Oakhill Primary School in Alders Avenue, on the Highams Park and Woodford Green border.

The youngsters, from Jinan in Shandong province, were given a presentation on British culture by Oakhill pupils, had a sleepover at the school, went on a tour of Waltham Forest Town Hall and were shown round sights including the London Eye and the Tower of London.

The trip was organised through the British Council.

Deputy headteacher Angie Bull said: "It's been fantastic. The children are growing up in a world where they are global citizens and it's important for them to learn about life beyond Chingford."

The school is now hoping to get grant funding from the British Council to enable pupils and staff to visit their new Chinese friends next year.

Cllr Darshan Sunger, a governor at the school who helped organise the town hall visit, added: "It's been a brilliant experience for both sets of children and I think our Chinese guests really enjoyed it".