YOUNGSTERS have been raising funds for an exciting project linking their school to eastern Europe.

Children and parents from Abbey Junior School, in Darlington, packed customers' bags at the town's Marks and Spencer store in aid of the scheme.

The project will get under way in January when pupils of a school in St Petersburg, Russia, arrive for an exchange visit.

The Russian youngsters will return the favour next May when they host the Abbey children, who will be leading a healthy schools seminar.

Louise Abbott, project leader at Abbey, said: "This is an exciting venture which will impact on everyone connected with the school and help to promote our focus on modern foreign languages."