Students swapped the delights of Tenterden for Beijing when they reported on the Olympics.

Twenty nine youngsters and four teachers from Homewood School have returned from a special reporting assignment at the Beijing Olympics.

They were part of a Government initiative to improve international educational links, in this case with China, and as such conducted interviews with Olympics athletes and officials which were broadcast by the BBC.

Teacher Vicky Hills who led the trip said: “We saw the rowing events, the badminton, equestrian events and the beach volleyball.

“The interviews we conducted were broadcast on BBC Radio Kent, on the BBC’s website and we were featured on the BBC’s Olympics coverage.”

She added: “The students interviewed Tim Foster, a gold medal rower with the likes of Steve Redgrave who is now a coach; the British basketball team; and the Australian synchronized swimming team.

“The students were great; they just walked up to the people and got interviews.”