THREE African farm workers have travelled 5,500 miles to learn new livestock care skills in Cumbria.

Mozambique dairy technicians Baptista Silverio, Saide Mapundo and Manuel Sitole have been visiting South Lakeland livestock farms as part of two-week tour.

They were invited to the district by vet Richard Knight, a director of Kendal-based Westmorland Veterinary Services.

"It is the first time the practice has had farm technicians visiting from Africa and it has been a very interesting and rewarding experience," said Mr Knight.

Baptista, aged 50, Saide, 37, and Manuel, 28, visited ten beef and sheep farms in the area over a two-week period. They plan to conclude their visit with a third week visiting livestock farms in the Macclesfield area of Cheshire.

Speaking during a break from foot-trimming lessons at High Barns Farn, Levens Bridge, Saide said: "It is our first time in England and the experience has been very enjoyable. We have been learning about things like animal health and nutrition and calf rearing. It is very interesting."

Back in Mozambique Saide and Baptista work on dairy farms in the Manica province while Manuel is based in Sofala.

Mr Knight said: "In their own country, often farmers have just one cow, so they have seen a great difference in the way animals are looked after here in Cumbria. For example, for the first time in their careers they have seen how silage is made and how important it is for the nutrition of dairy cows in the UK.

"The hope is that they will now take the new skills they have learned back to their own country and share them with other farmers."

He added: "I think it's particularly appropriate for them to visit this area where Kendal and other towns are Fair Trade towns, which are keen to support producers in countries like Mozambique."