COMMUNITY groups and associations are being urged to make the most of Didcot's twinning partnership with French town Meylan.

The town's Mayor, Damien Guiguet and his deputy Chaza Hanna were welcomed to South Oxfordshire last week to explore its technology and history.

Regular back and forth cultural visits have taken place as part of the link, which was set up in 2000, and this time Meylan dignitaries toured the Diamond Light Source - a cutting edge science facility nearby in Harwell - and Didcot Railway Centre.

Didcot Twinning Association chairman Axel MacDonald said: "It was nice to show the Meylan representatives things in the town. Earlier in the day we showed them around the Diamond Light Source facility and then it was great for them to see the railway centre too.

"They got cutting edge technology and technology of the past in the same day."

Dignitaries from the town in south east France have regularly visited since the link was established in 2000.

Mr MacDonald said other than dignitaries, the trips had been most utilised by schools, such as Ladygrove Park School, and others in Meylan, so he encouraged other local groups to get involved.

He said: "It's all about the exchange of different cultures and there's so much both towns can learn from each other.

"We have had great interaction between schools and I hope other associations in Didcot can also take this opportunity in future."

The link was established in 2000 when a group of sixty people travelled from Waterloo to Grenoble - twinned with Oxford - with many being dispersed to families in nearby Meylan.

In 2003 folk from Didcot returned and the two mayors from planted trees in a Meylan park marking the partnership between the two communities.

In 2005 an important junction in Meylan was named the Didcot Roundabout.