THE village of Raglan was bursting at the seems earlier this month with an influx of visitors.

While most were enjoying the entertainment of the music festival a contingent were arriving from Raglan's twin village Parcé-sur-Sarthe in France to experience Welsh culture.

This was the French group's first visit to Raglan and included the mayor and deputy mayor of Parcé together with representatives from many of the village's clubs, and societies.

Just one of the many highlights of the visit was a concert by Parcé's Crescendo Sax band, performing as part of Raglan Music Festival. They played to a capacity audience at the village's Baptist Church and shared the stage with the Raglan Saturday Singers.

The French musicians stunned the audience with their virtuosity, musicianship and repertoire.

Despite the rain on the Sunday over one hundred people from the village attended a tree planting ceremony where the chairman of Raglan Community Council, Mayor of Parcé and representatives from Raglan School jointly planted a "Friendship Oak" to represent the growing friendship between the two communities.

Among the visitors were also a number of French farmers who were thrilled to have a guided tour of a Raglan farm and the opportunity to meet and discuss their respective farming approaches as well as to investigate opportunities for Welsh and French Farmers to work together.

At a  lunch at Raglan Parc Golf Club all the visitors, hosting families and many Raglan clubs and society contacts  were treated to the a selection of local Monmouthshire food and Welsh cheeses,  before launching  into a group sing-a-long in a mixture of French, English and Welsh.

However, the constant Sunday downpour affected the French coach's departure as the vehicle's windscreen wipers failed, leading to some hastily rearranged plans as everyone was forced to stayed an additional night with their host families around the village.

Chairman of the Raglan Twinning Association Charles Fountain said: "This first group visit from Parcé has proved a resounding success with many strong friendships being developed between individuals as well as clubs, societies and businesses.

"The twining committee are extremely grateful to all the families who hosted our visitors as well and Raglan Community Council, Raglan Music Festival, Raglan Parc Golf Club, Raglan Farmers and the New Grove Trust who all helped make the visit such a success"

 Monmouthshire AM Nick Ramsay, who is a also a Raglan resident added: "I was delighted to attend the twinning  lunch and meet with  the Mayor of Parcé , his wife Anne-Marie and friends. The Twinning Association is working really hard, and it's great to see the bonds of friendship growing ever stronger between Raglan and Parcé."

Plans are now underway for a small group visit from Raglan to Parcé later this summer and a larger gathering in Parcé in 2012.