A TASTE of life in Indiana was in store for Bewdley folk when nine representatives from the twinning association went stateside.

The visitors touched down for a week with friends from the Clarksville Sister Cities Association near Jeffersonville in the North American state.

The visit was spurred by the terrorist attacks on September 11 according to Janice Bell, president of the Bewdley group.

She said: "When the group contacted us we questioned whether it was a practical move. We wondered if it would happen because it's so far away.

"With September 11, we just felt that a lot of the problems in the world are because of people not understanding each other; not accepting that you can be different. We wanted to work towards dispelling those barriers."

Steps to break down these barriers included a day at the Kentucky Derby Museum and a pizza at "Tubby's" restaurant.

After stopping by at the Howard Steamboat Museum - a luxury liner dating from 1894 - the guests signed a "friendship link" with their American cousins at a Clarksville Town Council meeting.

Council president John Minta said the resolution "opens a new era of co-operation and sharing between the two communities".

The British flag went up for the ceremony, in the town chambers, as each guest was called on to receive an honorary commission as colonels in the Clarksville militia.

"How we follow on from this event is up to all of us," said Mrs Bell at the meeting.

Bewdley's Stuart Williams, a founder member of the twinning association, said the visit was a rewarding experience.

"When you've sat and eaten with someone, and drunk and talked with them you're far less likely to want to knock seven bells out of them," he said.