STAY-AWAY Teignmouth councillors who shunned a recent twinning visit to France have been given another rap over the knuckles.

The hard working twinning committee was embarrassed when not one member of the town council went on the 30th anniversary trip to Perros-Guirec in Brittany.

The French rolled out their top dignitaries for the occasion with lavish hospitality, and the Teignmouth councillors were told face-to-face that their absence was disappointing.

The twinners made their annoyance felt on their return, and in an official report on the exchange by Mary Kennedy, a former councillor and mayor, the councillors were again criticised.

She could not attend a town council meeting, and her report was read by her husband, Bob Kennedy.

In her summary, Mrs Kennedy said they were welcomed by the mayor of Perros, Yvon Bonnot, and presentations were made.

'Teignmouth twinners would have felt much more comfortable if there had been at least an official message of goodwill which could have been read out.

'I was actually mentioned by the French twinning president as a former mayor, as if that was the nearest we came to providing an official presence.'

She continued: 'The twinning association is happy to do the planning and admin work involved in making these visits, and to plan for the visit of the French, but it is very much to be expected that, since this is a town twinning, members of the council will make it their business to ensure that official courtesies between the towns will be respected.

'Many twinning associations have a town councillor on their committee as a liaison officer, and in the past we have usually had at least one councillor as a member.

'We all hope that the council will take measures to ensure we do not again have to make the rather lame excuse that this is a difficult and uncertain time of year to councillors to commit themselves to attending.'

In her report, Mrs Kennedy also mentioned that the French hosts organised an excellent programme, beautiful weather and a splendid official reception.

This year, the Teignmothians presented Perros with a selection of books for the library to encourage youngsters to read and learn English.

Entertainment included a morning of traditional Breton games, including boules, making and devouring crepes and dancing to traditional Breton music.

The official banquet lasted four hours with live music, wine and conversation.

There was an outing across choppy seas to the Seven Islands, one of France's most important nature reserves, and a visit to the Chateau La Roche-Jagu, with its beautifully restored working gardens.