THE Watford flag was flying and a brass band was playing God Save the Queen as Mayor Dorothy Thornhill arrived at the Town Hall in Mainz in Germany.

She visited Mainz for the climax of celebrations on Sunday to mark 50 years of twinning between the two towns.

The ceremony concluded with Mayor Thornhill and her delegation entering their names in the Golden Book of Mainz, adding their signatures to the pages already adorned by the Queen and Prince Phillip, the Pope and American and Russian presidents.

The Lord Mayor of Mainz, Jens Beutel, reminded the assembled hosts and guests that the original move to create a bond of friendship between the two towns was an act of vision and bravery.

He said: "It happened at a time when the war had left Europe marked and scarred. In the 1950's Great Britain and Germany were former war enemies still marked by insecurities. What we have to understand is that it was a brave act to instigate this special form of reconciliation."

Both he and Mayor Thornhill marvelled at the way the first twinning created by the two towns has grown from strength to strength through links between schools, sports, culture, churches, commerce and individuals.

Mayor Thornhill said the strength and vibrancy of the link and the way the list of activities continues to grow.