VISITORS from Devizes' twin towns of Mayenne in France and Waiblingen in Germany took part in everything from a traditional fete to regency dancing as the three cultures came together.

Scores of people from the three-way twinning link enjoyed a weekend of events that included a formal wreath laying at St John's Church and the dedication of stones on The Green to mark the twinning tie that goes back 50 years.

Devizes deputy town clerk Simon Fisher said: "It was an excellent visit. The whole purpose of the twinning links is to bring different communities together and I feel we succeeded in that. It was lovely to see old acquaintances and to make new friends.

"The dedication of the stones was an important part of it and it was also fitting that at the same ceremony Margaret Taylor also unveiled a bench. When she was given the Freedom of Devizes a large part of the reason for that was her work with twinning which goes back many decades."

The visit combined opportunities serious examination of working practices in the different countries with how the different nationalities like to spend their free time.

On Saturday twinning delegates visited a farm in Poulshot owned by Nick Hues and were interested in the high tech machinery he uses to make his farm more efficient.

Mr Fisher said: "It was interesting as some of the money to help with efficiencies had come from the EU. The German delegation were particularly pleased that a large combine harvester had been made in Germany."

In the afternoon visitors had fun at Poulshot fete where they tried their hand at the coconut shy and other traditional games. Mr Fisher said: "I don't think they really have village fetes in quite the same way in France and Germany but everyone really enjoyed trying their hand at different games."

French Mayor Michel Angot, German Mayor Andreas Hesky joined Devizes Mayor Nigel Carter, town councillors and other dignitaries on Sunday morning for a civic ceremony that marked Mr Carter becoming mayor.

Afterwards each of them laid a wreath at the war memorial next to St John's. Mr Fisher said: "This ceremony is always held at twinning weekends and is a reminder why twinning links started after the Second World War to bring communities back together."

Next year the twinning weekend will move to Waiblingen.