THE Union Flag was flying high over a town hall in Italy after a visit by a group of York teenagers on an exchange visit.

The group were given the flag by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun David Horton, to take to Canale, where they presented it to the Italian town's Lord Mayor.

The trip was part of an exchange involving 55 teenagers from York, Canale, Germany and Spain.

The York part of the ten-day trip was organised by youth workers Steve Rouse and Sherrie Taylor, and they took with them a group of ten young people aged 15 and 16 from the Clifton area of York.

The bulk of the cost was met by the Italian Government.

Steve said the theme of the exchange was xenophobia, which was explored through intercultural games and workshops using art, photography, video and dance, with a presentation evening on the final night.

Activities also included a football tournament, a feast of typical foods from all the countries involved, and a trip to nearby Turin.

He said: "The exchange enabled young people from different countries to integrate and to improve on existing languages and/or learn new languages.

"Also, many made friends with whom they are in contact and several have plans to visit friends they have made from the exchange."

A trip is planned next year to Germany.

Updated: 08:43 Thursday, September 05, 2002