A POYNTON teenager has been on the trip of a lifetime to South Africa - where she visited the land of her childhood.

Kirsty Shuttleworth, 17, of Alderley Close, Poynton, spent ten days discovering first-hand the culture of Johannesburg and Cape Town after winning a Macclesfield Express competition.

And the journey was an extra-special adventure for Kirsty, because she lived in Rustenburg, near Johannesburg, until she was eight.

Kirsty, who moved to Poynton nine years ago with mum Carole, was excited by the trip.

"I left at an early age, but I have always been hankering to return," she said.

"Having only experienced South Africa during the apartheid era, it was amazing to see it as a land of equal opportunity," she said.

"Having had many friends there I felt that I could associate with their lifestyles and introduce the best aspect of the British out there to the people."

In order to win the place on the project, the Poynton High School student had to endure a gruelling selection weekend in the Lake District.

She and other youngsters were all stretched to their limits in rowing exercises on Lake Windermere, and army-style rope courses - some of which were 40ft high!

But the real excitement for Kirsty was joining 14 other lucky youths from Greater Manchester on the 'Spirit of the Streets' tour - a project organised in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games.

For the project was aimed at giving the youths a first-hand experience of South Africa's culture, as well as allowing them to see the positive effects of community-based grassroots projects.

Mark Dodson, head of Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers, said: "One of the legacies of the Commonwealth Games, along with the regeneration of East Manchester, is a renewed sense of community in the area.

"The Spirit of the Streets tour of South Africa allowed these 15 youngsters to build on that good will and to learn some valuable lessons about how young people can make a valuable contribution to local communities.

"I am delighted to support this unique experience," he added.