GERMAN students were given a civic welcome in Darlington yesterday when they arrived to sample what life is like in the North-East.

The youngsters from the Darlington's twin town of Mulheim, who are on an exchange visit with Longfield Comprehensive School pupils, met the mayor, Councillor Doris Jones.

The ten pupils from the Otto-Pankok School were also given a tour of the town hall.

They will spend the rest of the week visiting some North-East tourist attractions.

Longfield Comprehensive School's German teacher, Lisa Wilkinson, said the young visitors would be touring the MetroCentre shopping complex, near Gateshead, and Darlington Railway Centre and Museum.

Otto-Pankok is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and Longfield governor Doug Watson has already visited Germany to represent its English twins.