IN honour of its 10th anniversary, Alton Town Twinning Association laid on a weekend of celebrations for visitors from its French twin town of Pertuis, in Provence.

After arriving to a huge welcome, the 26 visitors were whisked off with their town twinning association hosts to Oxford, a trip which included a tour of Christchurch College.

During the evening there was a ceilidh at Alton Maltings, hosted by Alton Morris, where both French visitors and twinning association members and their friends joined in the dancing.

Alton mayor Matthew Bayliss, together with deputy Dean Phillips, officially welcomed the French visitors at the town hall when official gifts were exchanged to mark the anniversary visit.

From their French friends there was a commemorative plate and picture of Pertuis, and from Alton a bespoke wooden gavel made by wood turner Martin Saban-Smith. Alton Town Twinning Association members also received commemorative cloth shopping bags from their guests.

The original twinning agreement was signed in Pertuis in October 2006 by the then mayors Dave Crocker and Andre Borel. To celebrate the 10th anniversary, an affirmation was signed by Mr Bayliss and Pertuis deputy mayor Marie-Ange Conte.

The hosts and visitors then went to the outskirts of Alton for the formal unveiling of the road sign for Pertuis Avenue, marking the previously-unnamed section of road between Whitedown Lane and the Basingstoke Road.

On the Saturday evening, again at Alton Maltings, there was an anniversary concert with the Alton Concert Band, conducted by Ian Morrish, who performed a selection of songs of the British Isles.

Kings Pond Shantymen, led by their captain John Hancox, invited the audience to join in, followed by Jonathan Holland playing some classical solos on violin, and the concert ended with songs from Alton Community Choir, conducted by Carolyn Robson.

Sunday was a day for the French visitors to spend with their hosts and concluded with an anniversary dinner at the Alton House Hotel. After the meal everyone joined in singing French and English songs, led by Josette from Pertuis, before the cutting of the anniversary cake.

The French guests were given coasters, designed by Pam Jones, to mark the special occasion.

After the twinning visitors left, the celebrations continued with a week-long French-themed scavenger hunt organised by Alton Matters.

Alton library is staging an exhibition of photographs of Pertuis provided by their camera club. It will run until November 12.