A GROUP of Spanish primary school children were welcomed by the Lord Mayor of York when they visited a city school.

Cllr Sonja Crisp was part of a welcoming party for the 14 youngsters who are in the city as part of a week-long exchange programme.

The children and their teachers, from Madrid, are staying with families from Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy and Headlands Primary School in Haxby, who have arranged the visit.

In June, children from the York schools will spend a similar amount of time in Spain.

This is the tenth year that Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy children have taken part in the scheme, joining forces with Headlands for the first time this year.

The Lord Mayor was invited to meet the children at Headlands and in welcoming their Spanish guests to the city, she told them they followed in the footsteps of the Vikings and the Romans.

Councillor Crisp and the children enjoyed a traditional English tea, with scones, before giving all the participating children gifts of civic badges to commemorate the visit. She said she hoped their friendships, aided by latest technology, would last throughout their lifetimes.

Headlands head teacher, Sarah Wright, said: “I’d especially like to thank Nestlé for fantastic gifts of rucksacks, each containing cuddly Milky Bar kids, a mug, tee shirt, joke book and egg cups."