TOWN twinning is a crucial but under-supported area of Swindon's civil duties, the town's mayor has claimed.

Coun Junab Ali has urged Swindonians to engage with the town's twinning committee as he fears that, without more participants, our links with the mainland could crumble.

He said: "It's steadily dying away and it saddens me to see that.

"We need to get some new young blood involved and educate the next generation to stop it dying off completely.

"Town twinning builds networks and connections.

"It teaches people about other cultures and languages and helps us realise how much we have in common with each other.

"It's not just good for business, it's good for society, for security, for keeping the peace between nations.

"Ever since I became councillor, I've done everything I can to engage people in this because I think it's really worthwhile to have.

"I'll be doing everything I can in my role as mayor to support this because we need to keep these avenues open."

Coun David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council said : "I think it’s really important to have links to European towns and maintain them.

“The most important thing is not just that it’s a civic event but it’s something that residents of all ages can engage with and get involved in.

"Town twinning has to evolve and we have to be more involved through links between schools in the twinned towns.

“I encourage schools to have lots of exchanges, learn about other cultures and see how things are done in other places."

Highworth's town twinning committee has been particularly active.

The town has been twinned with Wassenberg in Germany for eight years and twinned with Pontorson in France for 30.

A Highworth delegation went to Wassenberg earlier this month with the new mayor, Coun Julia Bishop.

She said: “We had an excellent and lively discussion about Brexit and the merits of town twinning.

"It was absolutely fantastic, we had the most wonderful time and it was all organised perfectly

"I gave my first speech as mayor, it was a bit of a baptism of fire because it was in front of 300 people.

"We stayed with a German couple and they were brilliant hosts, it's a great cultural exchange."

Coun Gerald Edwards, council representative for the town twinning committee, said: “The more we are interlinked the better.

"The whole idea behind town twinning is that we are better off together, great friendships have been created and nurtured through it."

Delegates from Germany will visit Highworth in October and Highworth delegates will also travel to Pontorson in September.