A group of youngsters from Swindon made their way to the town's bus station at the crack of dawn yesterday for the start of a journey of a lifetime.

The ten strong group of teenagers will spend three weeks helping the people of Swindon's twin town in Nicar-agua who are still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

During their stay they will be based in purpose-built premises in Ocotal.

Most of their working time will be spent planting tree seeds in a nursery they are to set up as part of a reforestation programme.

In the Spring the saplings will be planted out to help replace the many trees devastated by the hurricane and erosion.

Two years after Mitch hit most of the area is still devastated and the rebuilding work is expected to take up to ten years. The Swindon party is made up of former pupils of Commonweal and Dorcan schools and Lawn youth club.

Two youngsters on the trip, Helen Ludkin and Jamie Carter, said they were "nervous and excited" and looking forward to helping people in Swindon's twin town.

Last Tuesday members were given an update on the situation in Ocotal by environmentalist Paul Baker who has been working in Nicaragua.

During their time there the Swindon youngsters will also be visiting a local school, meeting young people and handing over football kits to them.

During their time in Ocotal the party will be able to see the rebuilding work that has already taken place much of it paid for by money raised in Swindon.

Following the Hurricane Mitch disaster Evening Advertiser readers helped collect £40,000 worth of aid which was flown to Nicaragua by a Hercules from RAF Lyneham.

A new estate of 300 houses has now been completed in Ocotal.

It cost £700,000 to build and was paid for by funds raised by Ocotal's four twin towns Swindon, Wiesbaden in Germany, and smaller towns near Paris and Barcelona.

Swindon is also paying for a new health centre which will help reform health provision in Ocotal.

The expedition is being organised by Alan Bailey, the senior youth services manager at Swindon Council.

He said the trip will be of mutual benefit to the people of both countries.