SCORES of Welsh-language books have been carried across the Atlantic ocean and handed out to Welsh learners in South America.

Towards the end of last year, Bontddu couple Mike and Margaretta Ball were part of a Welsh symposium which visited Patagonia to witness and participate in the 150th anniversary of Welsh pioneers landing in Argentina.

The couple headed out to visit their south American counterparts in October of last year and engaged in a Eisteddfod in the Patagonian town of Trelew.

Following that, the couple made the long journey across the Argentinian prairie - ‘very barren’ - before ending up in Trevellyn in the foothills of the Andes, which stretch along the spine of South America.

Whilst there the educational explorers met with Iwan Jones, a teacher from Porthmadog, and handed out 100 books to youngsters in the region who were looking to learn and speak Welsh.

“Delivering those books felt like the right thing to do, it was nice to do something to cement the relationship between Wales and Argentina 150 years after we first made contact,” Mike said.

“There’s a lot of work going on out there to promote Welsh learning, it’s fantastic to see.

“It was brilliant to hand the books over and to see how excited the children were.

“Many people put in a lot of time and effort to make this happen, 80 of the Llyfrau Cymraeg were donated by Gwasg Gomer of Llandysul, through the contact of Marguerite Jones of Cynwyl Elfed.

“Credit should also go to Nerys Evans, Marine Hotel; Mererid Jones, Maes Bach, and Fflur Fychan of Aberhosan, Machynlleth

“We managed to donate an extra 20 books ourselves, all of which went to Ysgol Cymraeg in Trevelin.

“It was a fascinating trip.”