THERE has been an international feel to Oxfam in Tavistock over the last few weeks as the shop has played host to a number of students from overseas.

Students from France have been volunteering in the shop in West Street, assisting customers and pricing items.

Student Camille Hedan, who has been at the shop for the last ten weeks, said: ' I've been doing everything in the shop — online sales, helping customers, priced home wares, toys and clothes.

'The team is really good and it has been very useful for my English. In my school you have to pass an English exam and have to spend eleven weeks in an English-speaking country, so I chose England and went on to the Oxfam website.'

Deputy manager Jake Sloane said: 'Camille's English skills have developed a lot over his time here. It's all about how Oxfam works with others — getting help from all over the world. We will have a German student coming next.'

Before Camille there were two more French students who each spent a number of weeks in the shop.

With them they brought along a blanket that their school had knitted for the shop, following a visit to the school from shop manager Jacky Theobald — Jacky went out to the school to help the students develop their English through knitting. After she left, the students continued to knit and the two students brought the blanket back for the Oxfam shop.

The blanket is likely to be sold or auctioned to raise money for the charity.