BROWNIES and the Mother's Union in Worcestershire have provided inspiration for a delegation who visited the county from Peru.

Judith Godfrey, president of the Anglican Mothers' Association, and Elva Limo, secretary of the Women's World Day of Prayer organisation, both from the Peruvian capital Lima, began their visit by meeting Rt Rev David Walker, Bishop of Dudley.

The pair spent two days with the Mothers Union, looking at its recycling projects, which includes turning old cards into new ones that are sent to inmates at prison.

The trip included a visit to Blakenhurst Prison, Redditch, where members of the union support the families of inmates, and looking at other projects run by members such as making shrouds for still-born children.

"The AMA has been affiliated with the Mothers Union for four years," said Mrs Godfrey.

"We work in a similar way, although our priorities are different.

"We work to improve literacy, work with handicapped groups and we run an ecumenical HIV and Aids support group."

The second leg of the visit was spent with the Brownies in Far Forest, near Bewdley, who had raised money to help Mrs Godfrey set up a Brownie group in Lima.

The link between Lima and Far Forest began during a similar visit four years ago, when the Worcestershire Brownies were fascinated by their Peruvian counterparts' handiwork, called Arpillera.

"There are already Peruvian Brownie groups but we hope to set one up in Lima," said Mrs Godfrey.

"It will be for the girls in the shanty towns who live in great poverty.

"There isn't a uniform so to speak because of the poverty but the Brownies all wear red neckerchiefs."

To help set up the group the Far Forest Brownies organised a St George's Day collection at Holy Trinity Church, in Far Forest, that raised £110.

As well as presenting Mrs Godfrey and Mrs Limo with the money, the Brownies showed off their own Arpillera, said the group's Brown Owl Theresa Lyes.

The visit ran from Wednesday to Sunday, September 3 to 7.