SCHOOL pupils from South Ribble hoping to take part in the council's Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) have had their hopes dashed due to the foot and mouth crisis.

Dozens of teenagers from schools across the borough were expecting to welcome German schoolchildren into their homes this week as part of the YEP initiative organised with officials in Leyland's twin-town Schleswig, in Germany.

But, in a bid to prevent the spread of foot and mouth in their country, the German authorities have pulled the plug on the trip and called a halt to the students' UK visit.

It comes after fears from German farmers about the possible threat of spreading the disease which has gripped much of the farming community in this country.

Now the German authorities have backed the country's farmers by stopping the visit until the crisis is over.

Mum Susan Jezzard, of Woodside Avenue, New Longton, said her daughter Louise, 13, was looking forward to a visit from a 14-year-old German schoolgirl called Julia. Susan, who works as a health centre practice manager, in Tarleton, said: "Louise is very upset that Julia is not coming. The girls have been e-mailing each other for ages and have become real pals."

Penwortham Girls' High School pupil Louise had hoped to take Julia on days out to York and Blackpool during her 10-day stay in the borough.

Susan went on: "Later in the year Louise had hoped to go to Germany but now that is in doubt. The trip would have been a good opportunity for her to practise the language which she is studying at school."

Germany's YEP organiser Uwe Treichel said: "These trips have been going for 20 years and will be on again next year.

"The decision is political and Germany's president (equivalent to a town mayor) is simply showing solidarity for the farmers over here."

Councillor Howard Gore, cabinet member for community services, said: "This is the first time we have had to cancel on such a large scale. It's a great shame and shows a lack of understanding about foot and mouth.

"We are hoping that our schoolchildren will still be able to go to Germany later this year but the decision is out of our hands."