MORE than 50 years of links between Darlington and its German twin town have been recognised.

Residents of Mulheim an der Ruhr have provided a bench for North Lodge Park to celebrate the towns' partnership.

The Mulheim town twinning association donated the cast iron bench 52 years after the first exchange between the communities took place.

There have since been hundreds of exchanges involving residents and students of the two towns.

Councillor Tom Nutt, of Darlington's town twinning association, said: "This bench will be a tremendous, long lasting reminder of a very successful partnership."