THE first-hand experiences of a Herefordshire headteacher will prove valuable in a project based on the after-affects of the southern Californian wildfires.

Ewyas Harold Primary School headteacher Mark Gunn was just five miles from the front of the fire that killed 20 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes in the October outbreak.

Mr Gunn was involved in a three-week exchange with the British Council and was based at Solana Highlands Elementary School, in southern California, when the fires broke out.

Pupils from Ewyas Harold have now established a 'Pen Pal' scheme with Solana Highlands Elementary School students and will look into the after-effects of the wildfires.

Mr Gunn was the only head teacher from Herefordshire who took part in the exchange trip which focused on how schools in South California use their facilities and resources.

More than a quarter-of-a-million acres of land and 50,000 people were affected by the wildfires in southern California.