Links between Marlborough, Wiltshire and its New Zealand namesake have been strengthened with a visit by district councillors Jeff and Sandra Sewell.

The couple, who sit on the sister city committee for Marlborough District Council, decided to visit the town during a four-week trip to the UK.

On Friday they met members of Marlborough Town Council to discuss the two Marlboroughs forging stronger links.

Ideas included swapping commemorative mayoral chain links, signs showing links between the two areas and donations of books about both Marlboroughs in the respective local libraries.

Mayor Marian Hannaford- Dobson said: “It’s always interesting to have international links and we’ve found that we have quite a lot in common with each other.”

Mr and Mrs Sewell have been visiting Wiltshire regularly for the last 25 years and since 2007 have been working on creating ties to the town.

Since then Coun Nick Fogg has visited Marlborough New Zealand, the province has a stand at the Jazz Festival and St John’s Academy had regular video chats with Marlborough Girls’ College.

There are also links between the Rotary clubs, both chambers of commerce and Marlborough golf club in Wiltshire and its New Zealand namesake.

Mr Sewell said: “The visit is to reinforce links between our Marlborough, which is a province, and Marlborough in Wiltshire because these links expand international understanding.

“St John’s and Marlborough College have between two and three video links a term where they talk to each other and there has been a visit here by our Marlborough Girls’ College students, so we’re developing those links and me being here helps to refresh those links because the mayor here changes every year.”