The 45-year-old friendship between Truro and Morlaix has been celebrated and strengthened with the formal re-signing of the Twinning Charter.

A relationship that was first established when the two cities originally signed the Charter back in 1979.

It was signed by Truro City Council and the town of Morlaix, with the French side being enlarged in 2005 to include three adjacent towns.

This friendship has seen groups from the two cities visiting each other every year.

This year’s visit included a special ceremony to mark the 45th anniversary of the Twinning Charter.

After being welcomed to the city by town crier Lionel Knight and his wife Carole on Saturday morning, the mayor of Morlaix, Monsieur Jean-Paul Vermot, and two of the city’s deputy mayors, the mayor of Plourin-lès-Morlaix, M Guy Pennec, and Mme Sandrine Autret, deputy mayor of St Martin-des-Champs, joined Truro mayor Carol Swain, mayoress Sarah-Douglas Martin, deputy mayor Sam Rabey, consort Graham Ford, and members of the Truro-Morlaix Twinning Association in the mayor’s parlour to re-sign the charter.

Also taking part were madame Catherine Paul, president for nine years of the Association de Jumelage from Morlaix, and Canon Doug Robins, a member of the working party who welcomed the first visitors from Morlaix in 1974 and subsequently attended the signing of the charter in 1979.

(Image: Truro City Council)

Mayor Carol Swain said: "This is a very important day for Truro.

"The city is twinned with both Morlaix and the German town of Boppard.

"These strong cultural links have enabled us to continue to maintain bonds of friendship and understanding with two of our European neighbours.

"By re-signing the charter, we are reaffirming that this friendship, which has already lasted 45 years, will continue into the future."

(Image: Truro City Council)

The mayor of Morlaix, monsieur Jean-Paul Vermot, also emphasised the importance of maintaining long-established friendships at a time of global tensions: "I am really happy to have the opportunity to be here, you have a really beautiful city.

"The English people were our best allies during the last century when we fought together during two world wars, and I want to say thank you.

"We know that war is back in Europe, and I hope that, with the exchanges of people and all the work we do together, we will continue to be best friends for the coming centuries."

Following the re-signing, both groups exchanged gifts and enjoyed a lunch consisting of traditional Cornish food.

(Image: Truro City Council)