PLANS are taking shape for a 300-mile pilgrimage to bring people from both sides of the English Channel closer together.

Bradford on Avon & District French Twinning Association is planning the 10-day walk from its French twin town Sully-sur-Loire in June.

About 20 west Wiltshire walkers have already signed up to start the walk in Sully and walk through the French and English countryside, arriving to a welcome in Westbury Gardens on July 8.

Genevieve Garcia is organising the event in Sully and met Bradford walkers in Trinity Hall on Saturday to discuss the route.

She said: "It is an ambitious idea and I had no idea how much organisation it would take when I took it on there is so much to do.

"It will be fantastic though and we have just sent out brochures to our members all about it and I think we may have around 30 people doing it from our side of the channel.

"Our link with Bradford is wonderful and our members always love coming here.

"I enjoy any excuse to come here because the town has so much history and the architecture is so beautiful.

"I also love English food which is unusual for a Frenchwoman."

Organising the trip on the Bradford side of the Channel, Phil Turk said he was impressed with how many people had volunteered to take up the 300-mile challenge.

He said: "It will be a sort of simultaneous relay and the main reason for doing it is so French and English walk together enjoying both French and English countryside."

Some sections of the route will be by coach or car giving walkers a much-needed rest.

Mr Turk said: "We are busy booking all the accommodation and support for the various stages.

"The planning is coming together beautifully."

More walkers are planning to join in for the last two days from Christchurch into Bradford on July 7 and 8.

Proceeds raised from sponsoring walkers will go to Save the Children and anyone interested in taking part should contact Mr Turk on (01225) 722890.

l A PARTY of schoolchildren from Bradford's twin town has been visiting to brush up on their English skills. The group of 38 students aged 13-15 from College de Sully were each placed with an exchange pupil from St Laurence School.

Their visit began with a tour of Bradford on Thursday morning and a questionnaire to help them find their way around.

Some of the English and French pupils had already met when St Laurence pupils visited College de Sully earlier this year.

St Laurence languages teacher Melanie Hall said: "We match up the exchange pupils very carefully based on things like whether they have similar interests and it has been very successful.

"Some of the pupils further up the school are still in touch with exchange students they met several years before and their French really improves when they have done an exchange.

"With an exchange it's about getting the feel for the language and the country they are visiting."

During their stay the French students joined their exchanges in lessons at school and had days out to Bristol, the Roman Baths, and a joint trip to the bowling alley with pupils from St Laurence.