HACKNEY youngsters shared stories with students on the other side of the world last month as part of a special schools partnership.

Pupils from St John the Baptist School in Hoxton chatted to youngsters in Pune, India, via video link, telling them about their families, sharing photos and singing festive songs.

The interactive session, organised by the East London Business Alliance and global law firm Linklaters, was part of a project aimed at strengthening cultural bonds and regenerating schools.

It follows an earlier project that saw Linklaters volunteers working alongside Year Four students in Hoxton to makeover the school’s garden.

The law firm has also funded a new classroom, wind turbine and flushing toilet for the school for orphaned children in India.

Head teacher at St John the Baptist School, Laura Birkett, said: “Through this project our students have taken part in something other children their age wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to experience - to communicate with children in another country, from a board room in a global law firm in the City.

“This is the kind of experience that money can’t buy.”