A GROUP of Polish orphans were treated to a visit to Big Pit as part of a week-long visit organised by a South Wales teacher.

The 35 deprived children came from Special School Osrodek, located in the industrial city of Legnica in the South West of Poland.

The main organiser of the visit, Steve Knapik, 45, head of the creative arts facility at Pen-y-Dre High School, Merthyr Tydfil, said the children thoroughly enjoyed the exchange visit.

He said: "The main emphasis of the visit was about children helping children but it was also about teaching the Polish kids about Wales.

"They learned about the Welsh culture and heritage, which in some respects they could relate to because of their own region's reliance on heavy industry."

The orphans, aged between 11 and 18 were also taken to the Millennium Stadium, Brecon mountain railway, and St Fagan's museum during an event-packed week.

They also got the chance to try horse-riding and quad biking when they used the facilities of the Welsh youth movement, Urdd, during a two-day visit to West Wales.

The children finally left for home on Saturday, with fond memories of Wales, after bidding the friends they had made an emotional farewell.

Mr Knapik said: "When the children left there were a lot of tears shed. Friendships were started and I'm sure there will be a lot of writing between the Welsh and Polish after this week."

The link between the comprehensive school in Merthyr Tydfil and the orphanage in Legnica began in Christmas 1998 when presents were sent to Poland.

The next two years saw a host of fundraising events being held in to make it possible for the orphans to visit their long distance friends in Wales.

Mr Knapik now believes that the link between the region and the orphanage would only get stronger.

He said: "It's been too good a project to be a one-off and it will cement further exchanges between Wales and Poland."