TWENTY-ONE schoolchildren are staying in Redditch for two weeks' holiday which is intended to improve their knowledge, increase their English vocabulary and foster international friendship.

The visit is part of an exchange system between England and continental schools - and near the end of July Dr Deutschkron, who teaches at the County High School, will be taking a party of Redditch schoolchildren to Germany.

This is the sixth year that the exchange scheme has been put into action and the German schoolchildren who are in Redditch at present come from schools in the Cologne area.

For assistant primary school headmaster Mr Alsbac's son, Walter, who is studying English at a Cologne High School, this will be his fourth visit to Redditch.

While they are here, the party will visit Redditch Youth Club, the County High School, Birmingham museum and art gallery, the Enfield works, Cadbury's factory at Bournville, Stratford on Avon, Pershore, Worcester and Malvern.

Their final engagement is a farewell party in the county high school hall on April 7.