YOUNGSTERS at a rural school are forging links with the other side of the world, thanks to a mountaineer.

Pupils at Carlton Miniott Primary School, near Thirsk, are learning about life in Kathmandu, Nepal, by exchanging letters with a Sherpa school. They also hope to set up an Internet link.

The link was established by Baldersby farmer and mountaineer Chris Brown, who will be taking more letters to Asia on his next expedition to the Himalayas.

Mr Brown and David Greaves, husband of schoolheadteacher Kath Greaves, will set out to Kathmandu shortly, to spend three weeks trekking to Everest base camp.

Mr Brown has been to the region several times in recent years and was keen to make the links between Nepal and North Yorkshire. He told Carlton Miniott pupils of the Sapta Gandaki school at a talk he gave last October.

Mrs Greaves said: "When Chris came into the school with his slides from his Everest expedition, the children got really excited. They were intrigued with the school out there.

"He explained how the staff break the pencils in two to make sure all the children have something to write with.

"This really concerned the children here, so Chris and David are taking pencils with them."