A FRIENDSHIP link between the Rossendale Valley and Russian town of Engels has been cemented with the visit of representatives from its local university.
Dr Lyubov Sokirkina, head of the English department at Saratov University, and vice-chancellors Professor Dimitri Usanov and Professor Svetlana Mushtakova visited the Valley as guests of Coun Geoff Atkinson and the Rossendale Russia Association.
Last year, the borough leisure and industrial development officer Arthur Marriott and deputy council leader Coun Dick Stuart visited the Russian town to forge links.
The university already has links with Salford University where Coun Atkinson used to work as a research technician.
Teachers will be coming to Salford soon as part of an exchange visit and they will spend time in Rossendale and on placements in local industries, including the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.
Haslingden High School has also forged connections with a sixth form centre in the town by writing to students and teachers from Russia attended a special Russia week at the school.
The Mayor of Rossendale Coun Mollie Disley presented the visitors with gifts from the borough, at the Ashworth Arms, Rawtenstall.
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