'Delight' as town twins with US namesake

Mayors Monica Devendran (left) and Kassandra Gove (right) went sightseeing before formally sealing the partnership at Amesbury History Centre

A Wiltshire town has officially twinned with its namesake town in the US, following a signing ceremony on Tuesday night.

Amesbury in Wiltshire has been twinned with Amesbury in Massachusetts, a historic mill town north of Boston.

The English town's mayor, Monica Devendran, was joined by her US counterpart Kassandra Gove at the ceremony, following a visit she made to the New England town last week.

The intention of the twinning is to improve cultural, educational, tourism and economic links between the two towns. Mayor Devendran said she was "delighted" at the new association.

Amesbury, Massachusetts, is a historic mill town north of Boston

The twinning between the two towns was sealed with the signing of a scroll at Amesbury History Centre, following a day of local sightseeing.

Mayor Devendran said the agreement would bring multiple benefits to both towns.

"It'll open doors for collaboration between small businesses, educators, and entrepreneurs."

She said it would lead to "increased visibility and transatlantic visits, that promotes cultural tourism and local heritage".

"It'll also be a very good opportunity to explore education and youth opportunities for our school partnership and our youth exchange programs."

She added: "It's just a grassroot example of diplomacy, showing how communities can bridge and benefit by this twinning partnership.

"I'm absolutely delighted that is happening in Amesbury in Wiltshire."

The two mayors met in the US town last week before the signing ceremony took place in Wiltshire on Tuesday evening

Mayor Gove said she had been struck by the similarities between the two towns.

"We are a small mill town, a traditional New England community with brick-lined streets and tall mill buildings.

"We are a working community on the outskirts of Boston, and we have found that there are many similarities between our communities and I look forward to discovering more of those," she added.

She confirmed that a new "Welcome to Amesbury" sign was to be erected on the outskirts of the New England town, which will reference the new partnership.