THERE was an international flavour in the air when Easington's MP John Cummings met students attending a new course.

Since last year, East Durham and Houghall Community College has tripled its intake on a course aimed at students from overseas countries.

Yesterday, Mr Cummings met the students shortly before their lessons, which teach English as a secondary or other language.

This year, the course has attracted students from all over the world.

Mr Cummings welcomed the opportunity to meet many of those attending and was eager to learn of their ethnic origins which included China, Russia, Lebanon, Poland and Spain.

A spokesperson for the college said: "We have been staggered by this year's enrolment and it is fantastic to welcome such an ethnic mix to the college.''