REPRESENTATIVES from Wantage have returned from an action-packed trip to Germany following a 25-year anniversary celebration of the town’s twinning with Seesen.

The week-long trip saw 26 members of the Wantage Germany Twinning Association visit the town in the Harz mountain range.

Their German hosts treated them to a horse-drawn wagon trip through the Harz forest, to the World Heritage town of Goslar, a tasting session at a well known local bakery, a visit to an international agricultural seed supplier, and a trip to the famous Jagermeister distillery.

There was also a twinning exhibition in a Seesen museum and more music from local yodel group Harzromatiker and Wantage folk band Pandemonium.

Led by chairman Graham Parker and secretary Derek Verdin, the group were welcomed to a formal reception by the mayor of Seesen, Erik Homann, and the Chairman of the Seesen Twinning Group, Renate Pilarski, before the German and British National Anthems were sung.

The ceremony marked 25 years of the ‘ordinary people’ twinning, with civic twinning stretching back some 40 years.

Mr Parker, Chairman of the Wantage, Grove and District Twinning Association, said: “It went exceedingly well.

“It was extremely successful – we all enjoyed ourselves and were extremely well looked after by our hosts.

“25 years ago we decided to formalise things under a ‘ordinary town’s people twinning’ - that's became a bit of a joke between us and the Germans.

“Twinning brings a better understanding between two countries – we exchange views on all sorts of things. Brexit won’t come between us – its very important that twinning associations across the country remain together.”

The group also enjoyed a transport museum and a classical concert in the local Parish Church, joined by Wantage pair Graham Blyth on the piano and singer Jim Mitchell.

Twinning association vice chairman Jenny Hannaby added: "The friendships made between Seesen and Wantage will continue for many more years to come, judging by the happy faces at the farewell evening."

Wantage celebrated 25 years of twinning with Mabley, France, in 2016.

Visitors from Seesen will be invited to come to Wantage next summer.

For more information visit wantage.com/wantage-twinning/