The Swindon-Madhyapur Thimi Friendship Group hosted their first official exchange at the beginning of this month.

Individuals from Madhyapur Thimi in Nepal arrived in Swindon for a week of activities on November 3.

"I'm extremely proud that this first visit has taken place said chairman of the group Dr Christine Tipper.

"It was wonderful to be able to introduce our Nepalese delegates to Swindon and all the wonderful things we have going on here. And they were particularly impressed by how welcoming everybody was," she added.

Mr Madan Shrestha, Mayor of Madhyapur Thimi and chairman of the Madhyapur Thimi-Swindon Friendship Group, Mr Shankar Kayasta, vice chairman of the Group and principal of Glory School, and Mr Birendra Shrestha, secretary of the Group and principal of Supreme Academy, were hosted by Swindon families for a week.

They were taken on excursions in and around Wiltshire, including to the University of Bath, Avebury, Kennet Long Barrow, STEAM and took part in Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph, among others.

"A highlight for me was introducing them to staff at Lawn Manor Academy," added Christine.

The group hopes to establish a close relationship between the schools in Nepal and Swindon where future exchanges can take place.

The Swindon-Madhyapur Thimi Friendship Group was set up to encourage cultural and educational exchanges, with the aim of official twinning the towns in the future. The group grew out of the work Dr Tipper has done in Nepal for the last eight years with Glory English School.

The group plans a return visit to Nepal in 2020.