A group of schoolchildren have swapped Weybridge for an island in the Indian Ocean as part of a programme to create global friendships.

Travelling halfway across the world, 20 pupils from Cleves School visited Ecole Bossard School, Saint Paul, on the French island of La Reunion as a culmination of joint work and projects completed in the past two years as part of the Comenius Project.

Craig Smith, interim joint headteacher, said the school got involved with the project because they wanted pupils to interact with the wider world and find out about life in other countries.

He said: "The project has been so rewarding for all of the children and teachers involved and has covered topics such as biodiversity, heritage, culture, landscape and architecture, things which don’t make as much sense when taught on a local or national basis.

"We are very fortunate that our hard work has been supported by the European Commission and the British Council."

The programme aims to develop knowledge and understanding of different cultures and languages as well as helping to learn more about pupils’ own culture.