LINKS between Ilkley and its Norman twin town are stronger than ever, says the chairman of the Ilkley Coutances Twinning Committee.

Following a call for more parish council involvement in the twinning arrangement, Gordon Hamflett said he was worried that people might have got the wrong impression, thinking that the twinning arrangement itself was in trouble.

Mr Hamflett said that parish council chairman, Lexa Robinson, had been calling for more parish council involvement in the twinning committee.

He said: "Twinning between the two towns is, in fact, in very good heart and there is no crisis in the twinning committee.

"Indeed, the October visit to Coutances, where a civic delegation celebrated 30 years of flourishing twinning was a great success."

The delegation included Coun Robinson, her consort, three recent members of the parish council, the secretary and chairman of the twinning committee as well as representatives of interests in Ilkley such as the Club Francophone du Wharfedale, Amnesty International and Ilkley Playhouse.

Mr Hamflett said: "The committee attaches great importance to its civic dimension, both to its representation of the community and to that of both Bradford District Council and its members on Ilkley Parish Council.

"Other members of the committee include representatives of bodies and societies which over the years have developed close relationships with the equivalent organisations in Coutances."

He said that the organisations involved included Ilkley Grammar School, the swimming and football clubs, the Rotary Club, the churches, lifeboat charities and more recently, Amnesty International.

"In addition there are several 'Friends of Coutances' who by virtue of their personal interests foster close relationships between the towns," Mr Hamflett said.

He said that meetings of the committee attracted between 15 and 20 people and members helped raise funds to keep up the links as well as receiving support from Bradford Council.

"We look forward to many more years of close links between Ilkley and our friends in Coutances," said Mr Hamflett.