JOHN Bentley School took on a European feel on Thursday (October 19) as it was officially launched as Wiltshire's first specialist language college.

Among the invited guests were Rod Pottow, vice president of Cooper Avon Tyres, the main business sponsor of the project, town mayor Eric Porter, and ex-student Miranda Griffin, now a research fellow at Cambridge University.

The key speeches were translated into German, French, Italian and Spanish by sixth form students for the benefit of foreign guests, who included Hermann Kurz and Iris Bosold of the Isolde-Kurz Gymnasium in Calne's twin town Eningen.

A variety of foreign delicacies were served, including French crepes, and guests were only allowed to eat if they ordered in a one of four European languages.

Headteacher Anne Burrell said: "The performances by our students were a joy to see and hear."