SIXTH formers from Bridport rubbed shoulders with royalty on the trip of a lifetime to Ghana.

The five-strong group from the Sir John Colfox School jetted out to the African country on a climate change and Fairtrade mission.

Anna Brown, Dot Drayton, Jess Haley, Lucy Haley and Kristie Thacker were joined by deputy head Paul Middleton and language college co-ordinator Nicki Schantz for the 10-day trip.

Now they are to meet West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin to report their findings and also give presentations to assemblies, business forums and the rotary club.

Dot said: “The people in Ghana are so welcoming and so friendly. They are very happy people. There are also a lot of places to see in Ghana as well.”

The group visited schools – including Colfox’s partner school in Kumasi – but also met the king of the eastern region, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin.

They talked to him about the impact of illegal surface mining for such valuable deposits as gold.

Dot said: “He is big on environmental issues. I asked him about surface mining. He was keen on finding some solutions to the problems. He took us to see a local site which had been illegally mined for gold.”

Lucy added: “He is also setting up a university with Prince Charles and the World Bank.”

Miss Schantz said that they had asked the King for a message to bring back. She said that he wanted to say that the geography of your birth should not dictate whether or not you live beyond the age of 10.

The students made balloon models for children at schools and held workshops but they also visited former slave forts, went to the second largest market in west Africa and attended a church service.

Anna said it was an amazing mix of a traditional church service with African culture with lots of singing and dancing.

Staff have exchanged visits before but the students – who raised about £3,500 between them – were the first from Colfox to visit Ghana.

Now the school is applying to the British Council through the Department for International Development for funding to set up action groups in Ghana and Bridport. But it also hopes to see a Ghanaian teacher and three pupils visit next year.