LANE End became a corner of France this week when the village welcomed guests from its twin town.

Schoolchildren and officials from St Pierre d'Oléron, a town on a small island in the Bay of Biscay, explored the Chiltern countryside and learned about their twin's history.

Their visit coincided with Bonfire Night, so the French visitors enjoyed a traditional November 5 firework display on Lane End Common.

Andrew MacTavish of the Lane End Twinning Association said the French enjoyed “a wonderful four days” in the village.

He said: “They wanted to see the area so they could go back and tell people how different it is to their flat island.

“We took them to Marlow, where they saw Higginson Park, Steve Redgrave's statue and the shops in the High Street. Then we drove them through the villages, Fingest, Skirmett and Frieth. They were absolutely enthralled by Hambleden.”

Yesterday the group helped plant a tree dedicated to the memory of the former treasurer of the twinning association, Simon Griffin, who died last year.

The French contingent – which included Mayor Patrick Moquay, Deputy Mayor Michel Oboeuf, the councillor responsible for twinning, Geneviève Bouveret, and Twinning Association secretary Sylvie Lechevalier – then visited Lane End Primary School, where they were treated to a version of the school song in French.

Mr MacTavish said: “They were very impressed with the organisation of the school and the children spoke in French to them.”

Later in the evening 120 people attended the twinning dinner at the Grouse and Ale pub.

The event was described by Mr MacTavish as “the big event of the village year”.

He said: “The whole pub was taken over. It was decorated with French stuff, there were two guitarists playing French tunes – it was a wonderful evening.”

Next year marks the tenth anniversary of the original link-up between Lane End and St Pierre d'Oléron, with events already being planned to celebrate the occasion.

Mr MacTavish said: “When we were looking for a twinning partner we were looking for something totally different to Lane End. We found them looking for something totally different to St Pierre d'Oléron.

“We came together through the differences. We could hardly be further from the sea, and their island is completely flat and has some wonderful beaches.”