Hold the front page for this tale of two Worcesters

3:52pm Tuesday 8th January 2008

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THEY say journalists will go to great lengths for a decent story - but you'd think travelling more than 3,000 miles might just be pushing it.

That, however, is how far American journalist Jaime Flores came this week to find out more about Worcester, a city which has long been very close to his heart.

Mr Flores has been a Worcester resident for 40 years - Worcester, Massachusetts, that is.

He made the trip to England this week as part of a personal drive to raise awareness in his home city of its historic namesake across the Atlantic, while also catching up with family members in London.

"The residents of Worcester, USA, are not well-informed about their twin sister city here in the UK," he said.

"Personally I think the link between the two cities is very important. A lot of people there don't know about the Worcester in the UK, because I think the relationship has stalled a bit."

Mr Flores, 52, is a well-known media personality in Massachusetts, writing articles for hispanic community newspaper El Vocero Hispano as well as having his own radio show and television programme.

He is planning to run features about the Faithful City in all three media on his return to the USA.

So how has he been enjoying Worcester?

"So far it's been pretty interesting, pretty active," he said.

"There were a lot of people in the high streets, lots of shops and shoppers and businesses. I didn't expect to see such a crowd on a Monday afternoon. But everyone I've spoken to has been really friendly."

And how does it compare with the US version?

He said: "Well, our Worcester is the second-largest city in Massachusetts, after Boston. It's a lot bigger. And it's surrounded by hills - people call it The City of the Seven Hills."

Mr Flores said he hoped his visit would be the first of a series of trips by residents of the two Worcesters after talking to mayor Stephen Inman about establishing a closer relationship.

He said: "If you have a twin sister, you should always go and visit her!"