A TEACHER who introduced a romantic English custom to German youngsters is to be honoured.

Joyce Shaw, 57, who teaches music at Greencroft School in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, County Durham, was one of only two teachers from the region to win a place on a pilot exchange scheme to Europe, sponsored by the British Council.

On her visit to a school in Bergdorf, near Hanover, she introduced the pupils to St Valentine's Day.

"I couldn't believe that they didn't know what I was talking about - they had never heard it," she said.

"By the time I left, they were making their own Valentine's cards and sending them to each other.

"I told them all about the Lambton Worm and they told me a legend about their werewolf.

She made such an impression that the German Embassy in London has invited her to a ceremony today.

Soon, she flies to the US. A well-known singer, she recovered from breast cancer last year and now performs concerts in aid of charities that fund medical research.

She is travelling to Savannah, in Georgia, to sing at church services, and also hopes to sell some of her compact discs.

The night before she flies to America, she makes a welcome return to the Empire Theatre in Consett, on April 12, at 7.30pm. Appearing with her are the Cadenza Singers, Pam Stobbs and youngsters from the Pauline Cook School of Dance, in Consett.

Tickets are £5, available on (01207) 509976. Proceeds will go to Arc, which funds research into an arthritis cure.