THE largest delegation from one of Malmesbury's twinned towns crossed the channel for a visit last week as the annual visit got under way.

Twenty-five people from Gien made the 13 hour journey by coach to Malmesbury where they were welcomed by Malmesbury mayor Councillor Wayne Jones and their host families, who were dotted around the town.

"This is the largest number of Gien residents we have hosted in the 30 year history of our official link," Malmesbury Town Twinning Association chairman Julia Bowen? said. "Many of our French guests were coming for the first time while others are old friends.

"I am delighted so many local residents stepped forward to open their homes to host our guests. Among these were the Deputy Mayor of Malmesbury, Cllr Fran Vandelli and our town's Wiltshire Councillor?Gavin Grant.

"We are very grateful to everyone who hosted and worked so hard to make this visit such a success?.

"Our visitors enjoyed a gala dinner with their hosts on the final evening at The Horse Guards? pub in Brokenborough. During their four days with us they went to Dryham Park, Clifton and Bristol and the saw the "super plants" at Cold Ashton. As they left all said how much they had enjoyed coming to our lovely town and how welcoming everybody is here.?"

Gien's deputy mayor Stephane Corne and his 13-year-old daughter Flora joined the delegaton and stayed with Malmesbury's deputy mayor Cllr Fran Vandelli while newcomers Patrick and Annie Gaspard from Briarre stayed with Cllr Gavin Grant.

"Previously Patrick and Annie had ?only been to London a couple of time but never to Wiltshire. Patrick spoke a little English but Annie none. So I had to dust off my schoolboy French," Cllr Grant said.

"Annie and Patrick were delighted to discover Avenue de Gien in our town. We will definitely be joining the visit to Gien next June and look forward to hosting guest from Niebull in Germany," he added.