Members of the Leamington International Twinning Society recently visited our twinned town of Brühl, Germany.

The Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa, Cllr Ruggy Singh, and the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Sarah Boad, joined the delegation, staying with their hosts and participating in various visits around Brühl and Cologne.

Royal Leamington Spa and Brühl have been twinned since 1973.

Although almost 500 miles apart, both towns maintain a strong friendship through regular civic visits.

Speaking about the visit, Cllr Singh expressed: "It was an honour to represent our Regency town by visiting Brühl, with which we have been twinned for more than half a century.

"Both towns have much to celebrate, and on this visit, we ventured to Wuppertal, famous for its suspension railway, and unusually had lunch in a converted swimming pool!

"Similar to Leamington's own splendid museum and art gallery, Brühl has its own cultural attractions, including a Van Gogh exhibition housed in a former gas tower. The exhibition was immersive, including a 360-degree IMAX cinema where the artworks came to life."

Although almost 500 miles apart, both towns maintain a strong friendship through regular civic visits (image supplied)

He addedL "We also visited nearby Cologne, where we toured St Ursula's Church, known for its many relics. However, the highlight for me was meeting the people of Brühl, many of whom have been friends for decades.

A special mention should also be made of Dieter Freytag, the Mayor of Brühl, who has held the post since 2014 and is retiring."

Find out more about Leamington International Twinning Society here.