MOROCCAN visitors have been taking a look around Trowbridge as the town moves towards becoming the first in the country to twin with a Muslim Arab country.

The group of visiting dignitaries from Oujda, Morocco, packed as much as possible into their three-day visit to the town and were guests of honour at the Trowbridge civic dinner and dance on Friday.

Mayor Arthur Ransom said: "Our Moroccan community is the largest contingent in the UK outside of London. "Twinning encourages personal friendships and meetings of ordinary people from different countries and has led to countless links and greater understanding between different cultures and peoples."

The group of four from Oujda, the equivalent of the deputy mayor, two councillors and the town clerk, arrived in the UK on Thursday.

During their stay they visited Clarendon School in Trowbridge, East Knook farm in Warminster, Trowbridge Museum and the town's mosque, as well as taking a trip to see Salisbury and Stonehenge.

John Irving, chairman of the Wiltshire Racial Equality Council, said: "We wanted to show them the agricultural, spiritual and tourism side of Wiltshire. They were entertained throughout by members of the British Moroccan community. It was agreed between the two communities that certainly a partnership based on twinning could proceed."

It is hoped the twinning agreement will lead to exchanges of children and teachers, sports matches, the opening up of tourism and the exchange of agricultural expertise. The visitors were also introduced to town councillors who have given their wholehearted support to the project.

Cllr Angela Milroy said: "This looks really interesting and it was really good to have them here. This will benefit everyone, as has the Polish twinning. It is excellent and we are looking forward to it happening."

There has been a large Moroccan population in Trowbridge for over 40 years and most of those people originate from Oujda. The next stage of the twinning process will be for the Moroccan Community Association in Trowbridge to draw up terms of agreement to be sent to Oujda for the approval of officials there.

Trowbridge is also twinned with Charenton-le-Pont in France and Leer in Ostfriesland, Germany, and the district of west Wiltshire is twinned with Elblag in Poland.