Keighley was the host, over Easter, to 30 guests from twin town Poix du Nord.

The group, which included the town's mayor, Monsieur Robert Lambourg, and his deputy, M. Lecuyer, arrived on Good Friday to spend the Easter weekend in the town.

They took part in a range of activities over their four day visit, including a meeting with Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Irene Ellison-Wood at Cliffe Castle to exchange gifts between the two communities.

The visitors were also guests of honour at a reception for 90 people at the Five Flags Hotel in Cullingworth on Saturday, and spent Monday in Chester, walking the city walls and visiting the Cathedral.

Michael Scarborough of the Keighley and District Twin Links Association said: "We had members of the association here whose grandparents had stayed with each other in 1880.

"They always enjoy Keighley and the area. They find our friendship quite exceptional."

l Glusburn Parish council has received an invitation to twin with a town in northern France.

The town, Sailly sur la Lys, has 4,000 inhabitants and is situated 15 miles from Lille and close to the Belgian border.

Should Glusburn accept the invitation and twin with Sailly sur la Lys, they would be eligible to apply for European money to strengthen links between the two.

The grants, which are available from the European Commission, are principally used to set up exchanges and conferences or seminars between twinned towns.