TRIBUTES have been paid to the leader of a youth exchange project who died after being ill for several years.

Susan Harding began running the exchange between Weston-super-Mare and its twin town Hildesheim in Germany in 2003.

She worked tirelessly to find Weston families to host the German youngsters, and gave young Weston people the chance to live with people from another country.

Despite her illness, Sue (pictured bottom right with youngsters from the exchange) continued to volunteer her time.

In recent years she was supported by Debbie Stone, who said: “Sue was such an inspirational person to all that supported the exchange and in her memory I am determined to do my best to make it continue.”

Debbie will work alongside Lynn Macintyre so the programme can continue. Funding is being provided by the Weston Youth Council and the YMCA.

Weston has been twinned with the German city of Hildesheim since 1983, while the youth exchange has been running for more than 30 years.