YOUNG people from west Dorset are forging ever-stronger links between the town and Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bridport mayor Maggie Ray played host to an information evening designed and led by a group of young people determined to build a strong partnership between the two towns.

Charlotte Symonds, Katy Bird, Molly Foster and Millie Langdon had all visited Srebrenica in Bosnia earlier in the year as members of a Youth in Action project Like a Film in my Mind, set up by Bridport resident Tina Ellen Lee, director of Opera Circus.

They were joined at the town hall by Ben Morgan and Casper Hulacki who had also been on the trip along with Abraham Baldry and Rory Newbery.

Guests at the event included former mayor Dave Rickard with David Powell supporting the Bridport and Srebrenica schools and Rights Respecting initiatives.

The guests also included representatives from key local charities, school leaders and town councillors who heard project members describe their visit to Srebrenica and discuss how the initiative could develop.

Like a Film in my Mind (LAFIMM) is a Youth in Action project between young people participating in a cultural exchange between the towns of Bridport and Srebrenica.

It took part in March of this year.

Participants came from the Sir John Colfox School, Departure Arts, Dorset County Council and the British Red Cross, as well as Bryanston School Dorset and Prodigal Theatre from Brighton.

The international partners included Teater Mimart from Serbia, Theatre Maska from Romania and the Youth Centre and Youth Council of Srebrenica.

Ms Lee said the project was a celebration of culture and followed on from the previous project ‘Simply Human’ that took place in Bridport in 2012.

“Leading on from LAFIMM are many new opportunities for all participants involved.

“School exchanges have been confirmed between the Sir John Colfox School, Symondsbury Primary School, and Bridport Primary School with schools in Srebrenica, Zvornik and Skelani in Bosnia.

“There are two young adults coming over for in October to job shadow in Bridport, Bournemouth and London and six teachers are hopefully coming to Bridport from Bosnia in December. Furthermore there is a project growing called Park Mira, which aims to build a recreational area in Srebrenica for the young citizens.”