Nineteen German students from a school called Stattliche Fachoberschule und Berufsoberschule, in Altötting, Bavaria, spent two weeks with representatives from East Durham College, Peterlee.

As part of the programme, which is an 18-year partnership between the two education establishments, the students and their teachers visited HMS Trincomalee at the Hartlepool Maritime Experience.

The tour of Britain's oldest warship afloat followed a meal at the Casa Del Mar tapas bar at Navigation Point and a visit to the Heugh Gun Battery.

They had also enjoyed an evening at the Hartlepool Superbowl during their stay.

Hannes Holzinger, English teacher at the Bavarian school, said: "We have been coming to Hartlepool for nine years now. It is a nice place.
"The area of the marina looks so different to when we first started coming.

"The sea means to Hartlepudlians what the mountains mean to us and it was a pleasure to be on board HMS Trincomalee."

Mr Holzinger praised the college's hospitality and said he was really impressed with the college's new building in Willerby Grove.

During the exchange programme, the German students took part in an eight-day work placement in either business administration or childcare.

They spent time with various Peterlee employers including Peterlee Fire Company, Mecaplast Peterlee, Howletch Lane Primary School, Shotton Hall Junior School and Dene House Primary School.

As well as coming to Hartlepool, the students also went to see West Side Story at Durham's Gala Theatre, visited Whitby for fish and chips, had a go at bell-ringing at Durham Cathedral and visited the Sage in Gateshead.

East Durham College's catering students also organised two evening events, a traditional British pub night with pub games, bingo and a quiz, followed by a traditional German evening.

Their trip was rounded off with an awards event at the college's theatre, where the visitors were presented with accolades.

Sandra Ambrose and Stephen Metcalf, tutors from the Peterlee college, will accompany 13 students to Germany for the return exchange visit next month.

East Durham College principal and chief executive Ian Prescott said: "I'm very proud that this exciting exchange programme has reached this 18-year milestone.

"I hope our visitors really enjoyed their visit to the college and North East England."