Representatives from the Clevedon Twinning Association visited Épernay in France last month.

The visit was to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Épernay Twinning Association and the surrounding villages.

The Clevedon group, consisting of 11 members, enjoyed a weekend in the famous champagne region, which boasts the Avenue de Champagne, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It kicked off with a warm welcome from the president of the Épernay Jumelage committee at the town hall, where attendees were treated to champagne and canapés.

The Clevedon team also set up a stall at the European Market, offering a taste of their homeland to visitors.

They then toured the renowned champagne cellars on Avenue de Champagne and visited the home of the famous Dom Perignon at Hautvillers.

The association, which has been twinned with Épernay for nearly 35 years, noted that the friendships rekindled and newly formed during the visit were invaluable.

The Clevedon Twinning Association is currently involved in a few school projects with their Épernay counterparts.

They are keen to connect more clubs and groups with their twin towns, including Middelkerke in Belgium and Ettlingen in Germany.

New members are always welcome.

Interested individuals can attend one of the regular coffee mornings on the first Saturday of each month at The Old Inn on Walton Road from 10.30am to 12 noon.

Alternatively, they can follow the association on Facebook or visit their website.

Visit www.clubs-hub.com/clevedontwinning/ for more information.