A team of American construction trainees travelled nearly 4,000 miles to help their counterparts from Bradford transform a dilapidated house.

Five youngsters from the YouthBuild scheme in Rockford, Illinois, teamed up with members of the same project in Bradford as they set about refurbishing two homes in the city.

The Americans helped out with plastering, wiring, decorating and painting as they worked on the B&N Housing Association projects in the Bowling area.

The visit was part of an exchange programme to give the participants, who are all aged 16 to 24 and from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, the chance to mix with people from other cultures.

The YouthBuild scheme was first launched in America to give youngsters who leave school without formal qualifications the chance to launch a career in the construction industry.

It came to Bradford in 1997 when it was taken-up by the B&N Group which uses the trainees to help-out on its house refurbishment projects.

During their four day visit to Bradford, the American visitors took in some of the region's sights. Later in the week, they were due to take part in a conference in London featuring members of YouthBuild schemes from around the world.

David Flowers, 20, a former graduate of the YouthBuild project who travelled with the American party, said they had received a warm Bradford welcome.

"We have definitely learned a lot from working with these guys," he said. "It is different from back home where instead of refurbishing old houses we tend to build new ones.

"But it is great to meet the people from Bradford and they have been really kind to us.

"We have all gone through similar problems, whether that is being involved in trouble or not liking school, and we can all relate to each other in that way."

Will Jennings, chairman of the Bradford Youth Build Trust and regeneration manager for B&N Housing, was impressed with how the British and American youngsters had worked and socialised together.

For more information about YouthBuild in Bradford, contact Chris Ward on (01274) 767881.