Residents in Barfleur set up a committee to forge ahead with plans for cross Channel link

RESIDENTS in the French fishing port of Barfleur have voted “oui” to twinning with Lyme Regis.

The village’s 630 inhabitants have overwhelmingly backed the link and some 30 representatives met last week to appoint officers and take the plan forward.

Afterwards many went to a harbour-side restaurant to celebrate.

Newly-elected president of the group, Christiane Gancel, who has already visited Lyme Regis, said: “We feel we have so much in common with the town of Lyme Regis. We are a coastal village with a lovely harbour, and we have a small community who simply love where they live - just like the people of Lyme Regis.”

Barfleur, just 30 minutes drive from the ferry port of Cherbourg is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France, and in the Middle Ages was the most important port in the country.

Sheila Poupard, chairman of the Lyme Regis twinning steering group, who visited Barfleur last week, said: ”We are delighted with the response of the people of Barfleur, and now look forward to forging strong links with them and their village.

“We are hoping to welcome a party from Barfleur to Lyme Regis in September.”

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the twinning association should contact Sheila on 07711941570 or she941570@AOL.com

* Barfleur was the port from which William the Conqueror set out to invade England in 1066.

* The Barfleur lifeboat is named Amiral de Tourville after the French navy commander who carried out a failed attempt to attack Lyme Regis in August 1690.