A GROUP of staff and students from a Sidcup school have travelled to France to visit a small town and pay tribute to a former pupil.

Sidcup has forged links with Arleux-en Gohelle through Merton Court School, Knoll Road, following the discovery of the remains of a former pupil who fought in the First World War.

Marcel Simon died in 1917, aged 18, after adding a year to his age to allow him to volunteer for the Royal Berkshire Regiment.

His body was discovered after a group of people with metal detectors turned up the badges and pips from his uniform.

Surviving members of Mr Simon's family and representatives from the school attended when he was finally buried in the town's war cemetery with full military honours in 2000.

Girls from Merton Court's French class, school owners Dominic and Christopher Price and parents travelled to Arleux-en- Gohelle earlier this month.

They enjoyed a civic reception and swapped gifts before visiting the cemetery where pupils laid a wreath on Mr Simon's grave.

Plans are now being made for a group of townspeople from Arleux-en-Gohelle, in the north of France, to make a return visit to Sidcup.