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Justin Trudeau 'wowed' by Welsh slate from pupils to leaders

Gareth Williams/Getty Images A picture of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a copy of the letter he sent to the schoolGareth Williams/Getty Images
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a letter back to the school

School pupils have sent slate to world leaders to try to help secure heritage status for north Wales quarries.

Ysgol y Moelwyn in Gwynedd sent a piece of slate branded with the Ffestiniog Slate Festival logo to more than 200 countries.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prince Albert of Monaco are among 15 world leaders to respond.

Mr Trudeau said the campaign reflected the "admirable pride" the pupils had in their local history.

The project is part of Blaenau Ffestiniog's campaign to secure Unesco World Heritage Status for the slate quarry areas of north Wales.

The slate gifts have also been sent to UK politicians, with replies from Prime Minister Theresa May, First Minister Carwyn Jones and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Gareth Williams Albert II Prince of Monaco with the slateGareth Williams
Albert II Prince of Monaco sent a picture back to the students
Gareth Williams Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel with the slateGareth Williams
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel also responded

"There's a lot of excitement about it," said Gareth Davies, the geography teacher co-ordinating the project.

"There's a great deal of anticipation about receiving the messages," he added.

"The kids love it - when I see them, they are always asking who has replied.

"Even though I got married on Wednesday I'm still checking the post and e-mail for the next reply.

"Some send pictures of themselves with the slate while others have sent personal letters of appreciation."

It cost the school about £1,500 to send the pieces of slate to more than 200 nations.

Gareth Williams Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of SamoaGareth Williams
Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, the Prime Minister of Samoa, sent a letter thanking the school for the gift

So far, Luxembourg Prime Minister Bettel, President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President Macron of France, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka have responded.

President Savarin of Dominica and Moon Jae-in, the President of South Korea, have also sent their thanks to the students, while a letter has been sent from the office of New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with the promise of a formal response when she returns from maternity leave.

Gareth Williams A signed photograph of Moon Jae-in, President of South KoreaGareth Williams
A signed photograph of Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea was sent back in thanks

"We just want heritage status for the quarry areas in north Wales. We thought this would be a good way of doing it, and teaching the children about the world," he added.

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