PUPILS came together with their German counterparts to celebrate an exchange programme still bearing fruit 50 years on.

This year marks half a century since Chipping Norton School began its German Exchange with the Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium in Nördlingen, southern Germany, and the West Oxfordshire school held a special event for this year's cohort.

German students and their host families attended the party, which saw the mayor of Chipping Norton, Don Davidson, give German teachers a glass engraved with the town's coat of arms.

The school's concert band played some great music, while guests tucked into scones and cake.

Initially visiting each other in alternate years, the exchange now takes place on a yearly basis and over the years has enabled hundreds of students to form long lasting friendships.

The German teachers have been over many times and their bus driver, Peter Rapp, has just completed his 22nd visit to Chipping Norton.