PUPILS will maintain a transatlantic link with US President George Bush after meeting him during his visit to the North-East last week.

Six children from The Meadows School, Spennymoor, will be following up an extraordinary opportunity to talk to Mr Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday by sending news of their school to the White House.

The group chatted to the leaders as they arrived for lunch at the Dun Cow, in Sedgefield.

The youngsters witnessed the visit, and the accompanying anti-war protest, as part of their citizenship lessons with learning support assistants Jenny Newlove and Diane Richardson.

They watched the visit from outside the home of the school's deputy headteacher, Sue Cook, and were amazed when Mr Blair beckoned them over for a brief chat.

Stuart Percival, 12, from Bishop Auckland, John Bagnall, 15, from Stanley, Jade McKinnell, 11, from Crook, Gemma Mullen, 15, from Willington, Kirsty Ingold, 15, from Bishop Auckland, and Peter Weir, 15, from Durham, welcomed Mr Bush and his wife, Laura, to England.

The group is determined to tell Mr Bush more about their school and pupils are putting together a book chronicling their activities.

As soon as they were back in class on Monday they sent e-mails to Downing Street and the White House.

Ms Newlove said: "It was fantastic. We couldn't have planned a better citizenship lesson."