DARLINGTON has sent a letter to its twin town Amiens as the French town marked the centenary of the First World War battle which changed the course of the war.

Councillor Tom Nutt, chair of the Darlington Town Twinning and International Association, sent the town's best wishes to its twin French town, saying: "Rest assured the thoughts of us all in Darlington are with you on this historic anniversary of the famous battle, on August 8th 1918."

Darlington's links with Amiens go back to 1953 and the towns were believed to have initially been linked because of their railway heritage.

Today prime minister Theresa May paid tribute to the 'courage, bravery and skill' of troops who fought in the Battle of Amiens, as a poignant commemoration service marked its centenary in the northern French town.

Relatives of soldiers who served and died in the conflict also spoke of their pride and sadness as they joined the Prime Minister and the Duke of Cambridge at the event – staged exactly 100 years since the start of the offensive.

The battle changed the course of the war, as the comprehensive Allied victory, due to superior tactics, use of technology and leadership, finally convinced German commanders they could not win.

In Amiens Cathedral, the story of the battle was told through contemporary letters, diaries and poems read by guests from the 2,000-strong congregation.

Cllr Nutt said he had been invited, but a delegation had been over from Darlington just over a month ago to visit the battlefield and memorials and pay tribute.

He said: "We also reaffirmed our agreement of friendship and cooperation with Amiens.

"It is us saying that despite Brexit, we don't want things to change between us.

"If you look at it, the most important thing is that in the years since we have been part of Europe, it has been the longest period of peace between European countries ever. We were always at war with France or Germany."

He said he was concerned about the future of exchange programmes and funding drying up for youngsters' events.

"We are worried with some of the twinning conferences with delegates from five or six countries going, that we may end up being frozen out, but it is the kids that will suffer," he said.

In the last 65 years there have been exchanges between citizens, railwaymen, musicians, sports clubs and schools and colleges.

In the 1950s, 60s and 70s Cllr Nutt said there had been regular exchanges between railway workers in the two towns.

During yesterday's service Prince William said: "What began here on August 8 was truly a coalition operation under the strategic command of a great Frenchman, Marshal Foch, a battle in which the forces of many nations came together to fight; in which aerial, mechanical and human courage and ingenuity combined with devastating results. Amiens was symbolic of the Entente Cordiale, the co-operation without which victory was impossible.

"It is entirely fitting therefore, that today, that same international coalition has returned to Amiens with our former enemy in peace and partnership."