CRAFTING your own shoes is a rare skill but teenager Matthew Hart created his own unique boots during Settle High School's work experience week.

Seventeen-year-old Matthew, of Clapham, who is studying an A-level in design technology, spent the week at Nelson Shoemakers in Settle.

Working with Daniel Nelson he produced a pair of multi-coloured boots and is now working on a second pair based on a medieval design.

"It was excellent. Daniel was really helpful and it was a great week," said Matthew.

Meanwhile fellow Settle High School students spent their work experience week in Berlin.

Naomi Edwards, of Hellifield, Simon Ammundsen, of Bentham, and Kathryn Thwaite, of Skipton worked at the Froebel EV Kindergarten in what was formerly East Berlin.

Working with the children during the day and staying with German and Slovakian families the trio were able to enhance their A-level language skills. Working with six to 12 year olds the trio led activities in German and went on a number of excursions.

Simon said: "The family I stayed with were Slovakian and spoke Slovakian at home, but they spoke German with me. They were living in East Berlin at the time of the Berlin wall. There are still a number of employment problems as a result of unification as well as difficulties with reconciling wage difference between the east and west.

"However it seems to be the older generation which is most conscious of the divide. The young people are much more integrated.

"Going to the country and speaking with native speakers was really helpful."

Naomi added: "There are many reminders of the wall, including a line painted through the city showing where it once stood. At intervals around the city there are pieces of the wall on show like art exhibits demonstrating some of the graffiti which decorated the wall.

"Working with the kids was really good and we were also able to look around Berlin. It is hard to imagine there being a wall there in our lifetime. We couldn't imagine the community being split in half.

"The children had started to learn English at about eight years old and I think that was definitely a good thing because they were so good at it."

The experience supported the pupils' work in school on German reunification.

In September they will return the hospitality by inviting their hosts to visit England.

Naomi said: "They will find life here very different."