A Norfolk village cemented its French connection today when a new road name was unveiled after its twin town.
Brundall has been twinned with a small town north of Paris for the last 34 years, which has resulted in a group of residents from Maurecourt visiting Norfolk every two years.
However, the French town will become a permanent feature on the map of the village, near Norwich, after Maurecourt Drive was officially unveiled at a new housing development.
Members of the Brundall Twinning Association and the mayor of Maurecourt celebrated the naming ceremony this morning for the start of a weekend of activities for around 40 French visitors.
The new road forms the main link to a new 150 Persimmon Homes development, called The Pastures, at the entrance of Brundall.
The Norfolk village twinned with Maurecourt in 1980, and since then the two villages have enjoyed annual visits. Last year, 45 members of the Norfolk association visited the village in the Île-de-France region, where they stayed with host families and visited attractions including The Palace of Versailles.
Bob Stevenson, chairman of the Brundall Twinning Association, said: 'We are delighted that the main road through this new development will be called Maurecourt Drive and it is fantastic that we have made this happen on our twinning weekend. I think this will cement our 34 year relationship with Maurecourt here.'
The French visitors are set to enjoy a medieval banquet at The Three Tuns in Bungay tonight and a trip to the Suffolk coast tomorrow as part of a packed programme of activities.
Gerald Rutault, the mayor of Maurecourt and Alex Baratella, president of the Maurecourt Twinning Association, helped unveil the road name after Brundall Parish Council decided to name it after their twinning counterparts.
Mr Rutault added: 'It is a great honour to have the main road in this estate named after our town.'
The first residents of the new Brundall development are set to move in by the end of the month and the estate is set to be completed within two years.
Alison Page, of Persimmon Homes, added: 'Maurecourt has a sign in its centre that says 'Jumelee avec Brundall' – twinned with Brundall – and a brand new development seemed like the perfect opportunity to reinforce the link between the two villages. We hope that the people of Maurecourt feel an even stronger connection with Brundall.'
Are you organising a twinning event? Email adam.gretton@archant.co.uk
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