NORTH Wiltshire District Council leader Ruth Coleman will be leaving her desk in rainy Chippenham far behind when she takes a passage to India, to share her local government expertise.

Coun Coleman was due to leave for sunnier climes yesterday. She will return on Sunday after a hectic few days attending a local government conference in Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay. She will join three colleagues from other parts of the country.

They will be helping to train local government elected leaders and mayors in India.

Funding and communication will be two of the main matters on the agenda.

"I have never been to India before," she said. "It will be a big adventure."

Coun Coleman travelled to Cameroon with the Local Government Association last year to help supervise elections. "It is always interesting to talk to local government people in other countries," she said. "It is curious how much it is the same and there are some interesting differences too."