FLADBURY Paddle Club welcomed special international visitors who helped to raise awareness of climate change through the launch of new boat.

Brigitte Schäfer and Manfred Schäfer, the president of Coburg Canoe Club, in Northern Bavaria, visited the club in June.

Mrs Schäfer, named a boat the Spirit of Germany and the Climate Revolution, during the visit, which was inspired by the naming of two bell boats to Coburg in 2000, which were launched by Princess Stephanie of the House of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, the House of Prince Albert, the Prince Consort of Queen Victoria.

Those boats, named the Spirit of Victoria and Albert, were used for a 10 day voyage, from Coburg to Frankfurt on the River Main when over 1,000 German rowers and canoeists took part in the main voyage for Europe and the environment.

Since them David Train, through the help of Fladbury Canoe Club, developed the Paddle for Life philosophy which encouraged children, politicians and world leaders to sign a series of symbolic paddles to show their support for saving the planet.

Mr Train said: "The ideas that we have developed in the schools of Worcestershire, designed to bring all the world on board and working together to tackle the great global problems of humanity in peace - starting with climate change, have been taken to China, America and around the world.

"Now, greatly improved since 2002, we will give the latest ideas and a bell boat, the Spirit of Coburg and the Climate Revolution to the people of Germany before the end of the year."