STUDENTS in the youngest year at St John's School in Marlborough have been learning about global understanding and tolerance.

They have been helped by members of a visiting group from The Gambia where Marlborough has links with the community of Gunjur.

A group of young adults has been staying in Marlborough for three weeks on a bi-annual reciprocal visit.

The Gambians have been working closely with the town's young people through the Youth Centre and St John's School to help improve understanding of each other's different cultures.

On Monday St John's lower school in Chopping Knife Lane hosted a global citizenship conference. It took the form of a series of workshops on subjects linked to fostering greater understanding between the different cultures.

All of Year 7, about 270 students in total, was involved together with about a dozen of the Gambian visitors.

They looked at topics including racism and how Fairtrade schemes can give a better way of life to the producer and greater satisfaction to consumers.

The Gambians led a drumming workshop using traditional African drums.