A PARTY of pupils from Chelmsford County High School – who are visiting China – found themselves in the same area where a group of UK students have been diagnosed with swine flu.

But they have been given a clean bill of health and are carrying on with the three-week trip.

The twelve 15 to 18-year-olds from the school arrived in Beijing on Monday, July 13, accompanied by headteacher Nicole Chapman.

Deputy head of the school Julian Dutnall explained they did have to wear masks when in Beijing and their temperatures are being monitored, but they have now travelled to Nanjing – about 90 minutes away by plane.

She added: “We have contacted the parents to say they are ok and they are carrying on with the trip.”

In Nanjing, they will be starting their British Council Chinese language immersion course in Mandarin.

On the school’s website, which is following the trip, parents and friends have been told a party of UK students in Beijing have swine flu and have been quarantined, but “everyone in CCHS is fine and progressing with activities”.