A DOUBLE-DECKER French coach was an unusual sight on the roads of Launceston over the final weekend of the Easter holidays.

The hosts, Launceston Twinning Association, were delighted to find out there were a record number of families from the Brittany town of Plestin les Grèves coming over this year as part of the twinning visit.

The record-breaking French group totaled nearly 80, with more than half of them children. This meant that for the first time they had to hire a double-decker coach just to make the trip to Cornwall.

There were several new families from Launceston who were taking part with the twinning exchange this year, which meant that there had to be a limit in the number being accommodated at the traditional evening supper-dance event in the town hall.

To cater for such a large group and the wide-range of ages, activities were planned for the Saturday, which saw the French coach take a large contingent to Paington Zoo while another packed coach took a group to Dartmouth to catch the ferry to Agatha Christie’s former home at Greenaway.

Sunday was a free day and hosts arranged activities of their own including bracing walks along the coast and visits to Cornish towns and gardens.

In the evening, they all came together for a traditional supper-dance, which started with a delicious buffet — provided by Judith Scott and her team.

Launceston Twinning Association chairman, Jill Whitechurch said: “The demand from families in Plestin has been fantastic and making the exchanges every two years is working well, although the bonds of twinning are now so strong that many families are still making visits both ways every year.”

Jill also thanked Jenny Worth and everyone who had worked hard to make the weekend a success. She also sent the best wishes of the assembly to those who had been unable to take part in this year’s exchange.

President of the Plestin les Grèves twinners, Bruno Philipé spoke of his pleasure at being part of such a major gathering on his first visit as president and of the efforts in both countries to find new families.

As Plestin is currently between mayors, Cllr Christian Jeffroy spoke on behalf of Plestin Council.

He said it was the first time he had been to Launceston and through interpreter Carolyn Burch he said: “I have been told that Launceston offers a wonderful welcome — and it has proved true.”

He said that the only problem he could foresee for the future of the twinning exchanges was how they would fit everyone in, and added: “Perhaps we will have to have two coaches?”