THREE West Somerset schools have been strengthening ties with their Spanish friends.

Danesfield Middle School and St Peter's First School, in Williton, and Old Cleeve First School, in Washford, are developing a partnership with the Otura School, near Granada, in Spain.

Lynne Williams from St Peter's and Dan Perry from Old Cleeve have been working with Danesfield head teacher Ian Bradbury to teach Spanish to year three students at the first schools.

Old Cleeve head teacher Nicola Darby said: "The children have taken to Spanish with amazing enthusiasm.

"What is particularly encouraging is how successful more vulnerable children are at learning Spanish and how their self-esteem is raised through their success."

The Education Board of Granada and Somerset County Council arranged for a visit to Danesford last week of Rafael Jiménez Garcia, the head teacher of Otura School.

The visit helped strengthen the partnership between Granada and the three schools, which will eventually lead to pupil exchanges.