A PRIMARY school welcomed an Indian diplomat on a special visit to forge greater Patna- Patna links.

Indian Consul General Hitesh Rajpal was welcomed to Patna Primary School after meeting East Ayrshire Council chiefs in Kilmarnock the previous day on a tour of Scotland last month.

The next stop of the day was lunch at Patna Primary School, with the town having particularly close links to India as there is also a Patna in India, a riverside city that extends along the south bank of the Ganges River.

The visitors were piped in and then entertained with Scottish dancing, singing and a Robert Burns recitation before atendees enjoyed a Scottish-themed menu with an Indian twist at lunchtime.

Hitesh Rajpal said: “A Memorable visit to Kilmarnock and Patna Primary School. Special thanks to

Patna Primary School and Early Childcare Centre, St Xaviers Primary and Provost Jim Todd of EastAyrshire and Fiona Lees East Ayrshire Council Chief Executive.

“I look forward to strengthening Patna-Patna linkages and further avenues of cooperation. “