A twinning society has just bid ‘auf wiedersehen’ to the 20th group of Germans to be welcomed to its town since the initiative began.

Waltham Abbey welcomed 80 people from Höerstel, in the north west of the country, on Friday and the Town Twinning Association took them to Westminster, down the rapids at the Olympic white water centre and around Brighton and London.

Norma Green, former chairwoman of the association, who has been replaced by Andy Wilton, said: “There were people who had been there a lot of times and some who had never been before.

“It was a fantastic representation from Germany.”

During their visit, the group was invited to afternoon tea at the House of Commons by Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing.

There was also a service in the Abbey Church to mark 20 years of twinning, when curate Rod Reid gave a sermon in German, breaking into English half way through to explain a joke about Germans’ fondness for saving sun loungers with beach towels.

Mr Wilton said: “It was a brilliant start to my office as chairman.

“I met many old friends and made a lot of new ones and I look forward to the twinning association with Germany improving year after year.”

Anyone who wants to get involved in the town twinning should write to the association via the town hall in Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey.