More than 220 students from 30 countries enjoyed the world class exhibits at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich, as part of their week-long stay in the area.

Wymondham College is following in the footsteps of schools in Madrid, Stockholm and Istanbul by playing host to the biannual session of the Model European Parliament (MEP).

Delegates from the 27 countries in the European Union, plus the three candidate countries, are staying at the college and representing their home nations during a week of committees and debates about social, economic and political issues.

The delegates, aged 16 to 19, who are all fluent and confident English speakers, packed into the Sainsbury Centre on Wednesday night.

Melvyn Roffe, principal at Wymondham College, said: 'It went very well indeed.

'You can imagine the scene – 220 students from 30 different countries admiring the art at the Sainsbury Centre.

'Some of the brightest and best students in Europe are finding out more about the Norwich area. It was a fantastic evening.'

The students have previously been to Westminster at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow.

They had a tour of Westminster, lunch at Portcullis House and met Mr Bercow, before heading to Westminster School for the opening ceremony of the MEP.

Their itinerary also includes trips to Cambridge and Norwich.

Wymondham College has been working with students from schools and academies across Norfolk to make the most of the opportunity for political debate and cultural exchange with the foreign students, who arrived in Britain on April 7.

As well as representing the UK as delegates, young people from the region are also involved in chairing committees, presiding over the General Assembly and providing coverage of the event using the school's new media suite.

The visiting students are due to leave on April 14 and the final debates will take place at the University of East Anglia tomorrow and Saturday.

david.bale2@archant.co.uk