NINE underprivileged American children were greeted in Marlborough by Mayor Margaret Boulton last Thursday.

The 14 year-olds from Minneapolis in the state of Minnesota are spending a week in Europe with two of their teachers from the Sanford Middle School.

It's the second year in succession that Marlborough taxi proprietor Anne Harley has organised a visit to the town by a group from the US school.

Coun Boulton met the children at the town hall, and town crier Alfie Johnson helped the mayor tell the children about the history of Marlborough and the civic regalia.

After visiting Marlborough, the children were taken to Avebury, Silbury and the West Kennett Long Barrow before moving on to Bath. The children are then due to travel to Caen for a tour of the D-Day beaches.