SOUTH African children are modelling themselves on Pendle youngsters by setting up a youth council.

Members of the Pendle and District Youth Council visited Cape Town in October, and now the teenagers around Stellenbosch are setting up their own organisation modelled on Pendle's.

When they visited South Africa, the British teenagers took football kits donated by the Clarets and Liverpool FC to help get the townships ready for the 2010 World Cup which will be held in their country.

They raised all the money for the excursion themselves, organising sponsored walks and fundraising competitions, as well as securing funding from the Dreamcatcher Foundation, which promotes relationships between South Africa and other nations.

The foundation also arranged for the Pendle teenagers to live with local families during their trip.

Megan Hanson, 17, one of the youth council members who went along, said: "It was a fantastic experience as we got to talk to young people in Africa and ask them if they had the same problems with young people on the streets as we do.

"We also went to see some street kids and talked to them and tried to see life from their point of view.

"We learned a lot about their life and their culture."

A spokesman for the group said the exchange of ideas had helped both groups improve and enhance their work within the community.

As well as jetting off to South Africa, members of the youth council work hard to improve life for young people in the borough.

At the moment, they are campaigning for a new skate park at Ball Grove, Colne, and looking at which areas they believe will need new play area provision soon.

The next youth council meeting will be held at Barnoldswick Youth and Community Centre, Station Road, today from 7pm.

New members are always welcome.