CHILDREN from Greenford Primary School enjoyed the tastes and smells of India as they got the chance to sample another culture.

The Maiden Newton school laid on a host of Indian themed activities in a bid to promote multicultural awareness.

Headteacher Franz Atkinson said the Key Stage One youngsters had been studying India as a topic this term and had invited Sushma Sahajpal from Development Education in Dorset (DEED) to help run the activities day.

He said: “They are looking at cooking and artwork as well as artefacts from India and they all came dressed up for the day. They also had Indian stories to link in with a Book Week we are doing as well. “They won’t have this experience any other way and with the smell and tastes around it permeates the whole of the school, not just those directly involved.

“We try and do these multicultural events fairly regularly because we don’t really have any children from any other cultures so it is something we have got to actively give them opportunities to experience.”

Mrs Sahajpal, who visits schools across the county, said she was impressed by the response from the Greenford youngsters.

She said: “I’m very impressed with their enthusiasm and the effort they have made on their clothes.

“The questions they are asking are open minded. Some of them this is an opportunity to see another culture. It’s really valuable.”

Eight-year-old Jake Swain said he enjoyed making rice and sampling a number of Indian foods he had never tried before.

He said: “There was mango, papaya and limes that come from India and also cumin seeds.

“We have also been looking at Rana and the Demon King, which is one of the Indian stories.”