A DARLINGTON teacher will be at peace next week as she jets off to Russia to take part in an unusual international summer school.

Debra Smurthwaite, a French and German teacher at Carmel RC Technology College, flies off to Novosibirsk in Siberia to take part in a youth programme based on developing peace throughout the world.

Miss Smurthwaite, who has taught at the school for five years, has never been to Siberia before and admits her Russian is somewhat lacking. But as her job will be to teach the students some English, she is not unduly worried.

She told the D&S Times: "It is supposed to be quite warm in Siberia at the moment, so I've been told, and although its half way across the other side of the world I am really looking forward to going.

"It will be my job to teach English to the kids and the whole idea of the school is to base all the activities around developing world peace.

"Its been running there for about eight years now and at the end of it all the youngsters sign the peace register which is then sent to the United Nations.

"It should be a really wonderful experience."