A COMMUNITY is flying in the face of Brexit to create it’s own closer links to Europe after being approached to twin with a town in France.

The town of Bedale in North Yorkshire has set up a twinning association to coordinate links with Azay Sur Cher in the Loire Valley. The aim is to connect schools, sports groups, businesses and individuals to create closer ties.

Mayor of Bedale councillor Christine Mollard said a meeting has been held and an association is being created to coordinate it.

She said:“We were approached by Alain Diane, a professor of English who has holidayed in the Dales for many years and when his home town wanted to look at twinning he suggested Bedale.

“We’ve got the beginnings of the association and now we want to encourage more local people to get involved. The Town council is keen to support the move but it needs to be run by the Association, and we will do all we can to help.

“We are in contact with all the schools and sports clubs, as well as groups such as U3A to try and form links with similar clubs in Azay Sur Cher, to create interest and friendships,” she added.

The town is in the Loire Valley, the famous wine growing area of France. While Bedale is more famous for it's gin making through Mason's Yorkshire Gin, it's hoped connections can also be made with similar minded businesses.

Cllr Malcolm Young said: "I think it' s wonderful, it's the firs twin town for Bedale, a previous move to work with a town in Germany didn't happen, so this is a real opportunity, it's a chance to broaden our horizons and create links with a new community, and we can all benefit.

"We're particularly keen to encourage the younger children to be involved, as well as the wider community, and it's important that it's not the town council, and it's not political, it's about building up relationships between towns which are similar in size and population. They seem very community minded in the same way as Bedale is, it is really exciting to have this kind of an approach."

A further town twinning meeting is being held on January 18 in Bedale Hall at 7pm. For more information about the twinning go to the town council's website www.bedale-tc.gov.uk or the council's facebook page for the latest updates.