A TRIO of promising students from Pershore have been offered the chance to visit the White House in America, but only if they can find more than £1,000 in sponsorship.

Katherine Gullick, Sam Fowles and Pete Everitt have been invited to Washington for the 2006 Global Young Leaders Conference, an event organised by the White House.

And Katherine says the invitation is an appropriate one for her follow pupils.

"Either Sam or Pete will end up being Prime Minister some day!" said the 16-year-old from Norton, near Worcester.

Headteacher Clive Corbett was invited to put students forward for the scheme by organisers.

"It will mean meeting people from around the world who could possibly be tomorrow's leaders," said head boy Pete Everitt, aged 18, from Per-shore. "We would get to meet them, influence them and hear their views."

"We would be briefed on global politics as part of a visit", added 16-year-old Sam Fowles, from Pershore.

"The main issues are about international co-operation, about American co-operating with other countries rather than invading them and helping to reduce the poverty gap."

"It's the opportunity of a lifetime, and it's really great to be picked, even if we don't get to go."

"It would be something to remember for the rest of our lives," added Katherine.

The school has applied to Pershore Town Council for sponsorship and plans to talk to the town's rotary club as well as hosting fund-raising events.