GIRL Guides from Irkusk, Eastern Siberia, have made a historic journey to Lancashire as part of an international development programme.

It is the first time Guides from the former USSR have visited the UK after the movement was banned under communist rule and forced underground.

However, in recent years guiding has flourished, and each year since 1995 when links with the North West of England were first established, up to five girls from the UK have visited their comrades in Russia.

The group of eight, aged between 16 and 24, arrived with Eastern Siberian Region Commissioner Olga Efimenko on July 27. For part of their stay they will reside with families across the North West, including two in Edenfield. This week they join 500 girls from the North West for Millipede 2000, a millennium camp held at Waddow Hall in Clitheroe.

Activities at the camp, which runs until Saturday, include archery, circus skills, raft building and abseiling. The Guides will also have the chance to try ice-skating in Blackburn or take a dip at the town's Waves Water Fun Centre.

Later they will teach Russian to their peer group through games and crafts at Guys Farm, a Guide Association outdoor activitiy centre near Forton.

Jan Anning, commissioner for North West Guide Assocation said she hoped the visit would fire the imagination of Guides in the UK, and encourage them to take advantage of overseas travel opportunities.

She said: "We are all very excited about the arrival of Olga and the Guides from Irkusk. We hope they enjoy themselves in the North West.

"Despite our differences in language and culture, we are confident that the visit will be a success."

Picture: Irana Efimenko (centre) meets 2nd Pendle Forest Guides Kate Mellor of Fence (left) and Sophie Boast of Colne.