NEARLY 50 people from the Droitwich Twinning Association will spend this Bank Holiday weekend in Germany.

Forty-seven members of the association are making their way by plane or car to Bad Ems near Koblenz, in western Germany, for the annual meeting between the two linked associations.

This year the recently elected chairman of the association, Rob Jacobs, and the new mayor of Droitwich, Richard Morris, will accompany the Worcestershire group.

The members have a packed three-day itinerary, including a walking tour of Bad Ems, an official reception and a Jacques Offenbach Festival Concert - one of the town's most famous sons.

There will be a farewell dinner on Monday night before the party returns on Tuesday morning.

Over the weekend, the two associations will plan next year's return visit by Bad Ems representatives and lay the groundwork for the 25th anniversary celebrations in 2008.

"It gives us the chance to improve cultural links between our two communities. Our link is more of a friendship association, whereas others share more of a relationship between councils," said Mr Jacobs.

He added the meeting was also a chance to address mutually important concerns - one being the falling membership of Droitwich Twinning Association.

The meeting is especially poignant as the chairman of the Bad Ems Association, Karl Krekel is retiring from his post after 22 years.

Droitwich has been linked with the German town since 1983, and visits have taken place alternating between the venues ever since.

Host members will accommodate the Droit-wich visitors and the mayor of Bad Ems will accomodate Mr Morris.

The Droitwich association is self funded and hold regular fund raising events.