A group of Bradford people have gone to the Continent to promote Bradford's bid to be the cultural capital of Europe.

Twenty eight members of the Bradford Twin Town Association (BTTA) set off for the French town of Roubaix, near the Belgian border, for a week-long trip aimed at strengthening cross-Channel relations.

BTTA president Glyn Roberts said they would be taking Bradford 2008 cufflinks.

"I will be presenting a gift from the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Richard Wightman, to the Mayor of Roubaix," said Mr Roberts.

"This gift is accompanied by a letter which says, among other things: 'I am sure that this visit will strengthen the links and friendship between our two cities.'

"We need to stir up support in Europe if we are to be the cultural capital of Europe."

The BTTA's visit was starting with a civic reception at Roubaix Town Hall and the party were spending time with their host families before returning to Britain via Holland.

Farzana Khan, spokesman for Bradford 2008, said the Bradford group would be ambassadors, promoting the district and the importance of partnerships with European cities.

Bradford is twinned with towns and cities in Germany, Belgium and Macedonia.

More recently Leeds City Council publicly backed the district's 2008 bid with its partner city of Brno in the Czech Republic.

Under Capital of Culture rules the British city that wins the 2008 title will share it with an East European city. Brno may be Bradford's partner if both cities win the culture title.

Letters have also been sent from the BTTA to local authorities in Moenchengladbach in Germany, Verviers in Belgium and Skopje in Macedonia asking them to promote Bradford's bid in their cities.

Mr Roberts added: "Bradford needs to promote itself as a city which has lots of links with other parts of the world and a high cultural content. It needs to publicise the many connections we've developed with other areas of central and eastern Europe."

The BTTA has organised exchange trips with Bradford's twin towns since the 1960s.

It is campaigning for signs to be installed on the main routes into the city to raise awareness of the places with which Bradford is twinned.