A MASAI warrior has swapped his hunting spear for school books to live in Prestwich for two months.

Kenyan Emmanuel Kisemei is just 14 years old but has already reached manhood in his home village... by spearing a wild lion.

The killing, in a village near the Masai Mara River, achieved Emmanuel warrior status and delighted his father.

But Emmanuel, who wants to be a doctor one day, also has a studious side and is now studying for two months at Parrenthorn High School as a regular pupil.

This is not the first visit the teenager has made to Prestwich as he was taken under the wing of the Turner family, of Hilton Lane, around four years ago. Mrs Joyce Turner, who has been acting as Emmanuel's guardian during his time in England, said the two cultures first met when her daughter, Caroline, aged 31, went to work in Kenya in 1999.

Mrs Turner, aged 58, who is a governor at Parrenthorn, said: "Caroline is a freelance television producer and went to Kenya to make a children's documentary programme. The idea was to show people that it was not all starvation and war.

"When she returned home she said 'That's it, there will be no Christmas presents as I want us to sponsor a boy in Kenya'. Caroline is quite an individual who does things with a lot of thought for others."

And that is exactly what the Turners did, resulting in Emmanuel continuing his education at boarding school in Kenya instead of ending his studies when he left junior school.

The family also sponsor Emmanuel's brothers and sisters and have even visited the Kisemei family in their village.

Mrs Turner said: "The family does live in a mud hut but they are very proud people and Emmanuel likes to state that they now have a metal roof instead of a straw one. The family are very grateful for our help."

Emmanuel, who is pictured in his national costume with ceremonial artefacts made by his mother, wants to go to university eventually and during his time at Parrenthorn has been learning French and algebra, subjects he would not get a chance to learn in Kenya.

He has also experienced the British weather and was mesmerised by our recent snowfall.

Headteacher of Parrenthorn, Mr Arthur Francis, said: "It has been a revelation having Emmanuel here, for a lot of pupils and staff. He comes from a very different part of the world and system of education.

"His visit has been very useful for the children and has posed a wonderful experience for Emmanuel himself and for the people who have come into contact with him."

Mr Francis said Emmanuel had proved himself as "a very strong cross country runner" and was intent on working hard to achieve his goal of becoming a doctor.