MEMBERS of Worcester Lions Club crossed the Channel to say a quick 'bonjour' to their twin club in France.

Since 1972 Worcester Lions has been twinned with the Lions Club of Orleans Doyen, which is just south of Paris.

The clubs visit each other on a regular basis and this year it was the turn of the Worcester club members to travel to France.

After arriving, the Worcester Lions were treated to supper and joined members of the French club at one of their member’s homes to catch up with long-time friends and meet new ones.

The following day saw them board a coach early to travel to Paris to start a tour of the city which commenced at Notre-Dame and took in many of the other sites of interest in the city and included lunch on board a Baton Rouge on the river Seine.

The party once again joined members of the French club for a formal dinner at the Restaurant o Madagascar, where the French club hold their meeting. The meal was followed by speeches by the presidents of both clubs and an exchange of gifts.

After brunch the following day, members the Worcester club said their goodbyes and started their journey home.

Geoff Lewis, of Worcester Lions, hailed the visit as a "very enjoyable and busy few days".

He said the clubs have worked together on several projects over the years, including one to set up a number of vegetable carts that would assist women at that time living in slums in Kathmandu with their children.

"The carts enable the women to work and earn money to feed, clothe and educate their children. It also gave them a chance to re-form family life, become self-sufficient, regain their self-respect and hopefully enable them to move into better accommodation," he said.

More recently the Lions Club of Orleans Doyen and Worcester Lions Club each donated £500, once again to the Ladies Lions Club of Kathmandu Bhrikuti.

This wasto help them purchase locally corrugated galvanised steel sheeting to enable them to finish the re-building of the Nagarjun Thulagaun Higher Secondary School, Tarkeshwor, Kathmandu, which was completely destroyed by the Nepal earthquake.

Worcester Lions Club is always looking for new members. For more information or to join, visit worcesterlionsclub.org.uk, email worcester@lions105m.org.uk or call Joy or Ian 0845 833 5926.

Lions give every penny that they collect to good causes. Not one penny is spent on administration.