A Norfolk student has just returned from a three-week stint in American where he learned more about horticulture businesses.

Lewis Hollingsworth, 18, of Burston Road, Thelveton, was given the chance of the stay in Norfolk, Virginia, after receiving the Norfolk and Norwich World Family Travel Award 2012.

The former Diss High School student visited the country as part of an exchange visit arranged through the Norfolk VA Sister Cities Association and was hosted by Dr Laurie Fox.

During his stay, he was able to build contacts with horticulture businesses in the state, including Flora Nova, and said that possible job opportunities could arise from the businesses he had spoken to.

He had not been due to go on the American trip after finishing second for the Young Horticulturalist of the Year award at Easton College where he completed his diploma, but the student who came first was unable to make the trip.

He said: 'It was my first trip out of the country so it was a big experience for me and inspired me to do more work towards another diploma.'

He added that the climate and growing conditions in the US were very different to those in the UK along with the seasons in which flowers bloom.

He said the range of flowers in the US was different to that in the UK, while the area was also prone to flooding as it was located close to the Atlantic ocean.

His initial interest in horticulture stemmed from when he used to help his grandad during summer holidays, and after he left school he was looking for a possible career so he decided to take up horticulture. As well as learning about horticulture during his US stay, he also visited Williamsburg, Washington DC, Jamestown and North Carolina, as well as watching the Norfolk Tides baseball team, a minor league team in America.