PORTISHEAD played host to 43 guests from its twin town of Den Dungen in The Netherlands during a visit earlier this month.

A choir formed from both countries, sang at a service in St Nicolas Church in Portishead before the group enjoyed a trip to the Big Pit in Wales, a visit to Westonbirt Arboretum and a social gathering at the bowls club, during which Portishead Railway Group presented the Dutch Twinning Association with a framed Portishead Railway poster.

As the group returned home, plans were already underway for a visit of Portishead members to the Dutch town in 2013.

Portishead Twinning Association was formed in the late 1980s by a group of residents who felt the town needed to widen its horizons.

Den Dungen was selected because local resident Dan Griffiths, a glider pilot during World War Two, was shielded by the people of Den Dungen, avoiding capture when he was shot down en route to Arnhem. Formal twinning charters were exchanged with Den Dungen in 1989.

Portishead is also twinned with the German town of Schweich, a partnership which began in 1992.

For more details about the association call 01275 847788.