MAYOR Anne Kenwood has hailed the links between Weymouth and Portland and the borough’s twin town in France.

She called for more ties between the two areas after a recent visit to Louviers, which is near Rouen.

Coun Kenwood, who is mayor of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “I really enjoyed the visit to Louviers.

“The French people are wonderful and so hospitable.

“They all made us very welcome.”

Louviers is a market town in the Eure area of Normandy. It has been twinned with Weymouth and Portland since 1958.

Coun Kenwood was part of a 39-strong delegation from the borough’s twinning association to the French town.

She presented Louviers mayor Franck Martin with two framed prints, of the mainland from Chiswell and Chesil Beach.

The Louviers mayor presented a gold Waterman fountain pen to the Weymouth and Portland mayor, which will be kept in the Mayor’s Parlour.

Weymouth town crier Doris Eastwood, who is also honorary town crier of Louviers, announced the presentations with a traditional cry.

Coun Kenwood said: “I was welcomed particularly by Franck Martin, Mayor of Louviers and his wife Baudet.

“They and Louviers First Deputy Mayor Roland Lienard and his wife Martine hosted a special dinner in my honour on the first night.”

Mayor Martin welcomed the Weymouth and Portland twinning society members at a reception.

He told French and English members that now as his daughter had married in Oxford this year, he felt much closer to England.

A keen yachtsman, he looked forward to a ringside seat at the 2012 sailing Olympics.

Coun Kenwood thanked Mr Martin for a warm reception to the town.

She said it was important to create lasting friendship and understanding between the two towns and countries.

Coun Kenwood added: “It was a lovely weekend in a beautiful French town.”