Despite day time temperatures that struggled to rise above minus 10 degrees Celsius, the three-day visit was very successful for the Sleaford contingent and their twinning counterparts.

In the course of Saturday morning the two mayors, helped by Jean-Michel DePlanque, representing the Mayor of Marquette-lez-Lille (the two towns' mutual French twin), ceremonially unveiled one of the twinning plaques newly installed in Fredersdorf Nord, Fredersdorf Sud and Vogelsdorf.

Sheila Wheeldon, chairman of Sleaford and District Twinning Association, said: "We visited the magnificent new Kita, a nursery accommodating 150 children aged six and under and were impressed by and envious of all the facilities.

There was even a miniature sauna, complete with ready access to the snowy outside world, so that the children could cool down. The pre-schoolers of our new twin town are privileged."

The final part of the twinning agreement was signed with due pomp and ceremony during Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf's New Year honours celebrations.

As symbols of this new partnership, Mr Blythe presented the people of Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf and of Marquette-lez-Lille with glassware, Sleaford Pride decorative paving blocks and a Lincolnshire flag.

Mrs Wheeldon added: "A major focus of this twinning will be to instigate initiatives to involve the young people of our towns.

"To this end, teachers from Kesteven and Sleaford High School and Carre's Grammar School spent Monday in the local Hochschule, meeting German teachers and discussing ways of building contacts between school pupils.

"Plans are also afoot for a joint summer camp for 18 to 21 year olds and for continuing sporting, cultural and musical links."