A 40-year tradition of friendship between Bishop Auckland and its twin French town has ended on a sour note.

It was not that the people of Ivry-sur-Seine, near Paris, said 'Non' to any more visits - they just did not reply to any invitations or write to explain why.

Now the Bishop Auckland and District French Twinning Association has disbanded and handed the money it raised for entertaining guests over to charity.

The Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland has already been given £2,013, and the same amount is going to the cardiac unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

Chairman Fred Alderson said members had hoped to entertain a delegation from Ivry last year to mark the association's 40th anniversary.

"We sent them an invitation but they didn't reply. They did not respond when we wrote to ask them why.

"We don't understand it. We knew the people really well. This is the surprising thing about it. It seems a shame not to have ended amicably.

"We had some wonderful times staying in each other's homes and enjoying dances. We made some good friends.

"In its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s the association met every month in Bishop Auckland Town Hall and you could not get a seat.

"But numbers have dwindled to about 20 and there is no new blood. The French must be in the same position, but they might have let us know."

Association member Vere Shuttleworth was so mystified he called at Ivry during a visit to France.

The town's new mayor would not see him, but he made contact with people from the French group.

He said: "I do not think there was any offence meant. The French are notorious for not corresponding. They just could not get people any more.

"I thought it was worth one more throw of the dice, but it came to nothing."

Coun Shuttleworth's home village of Wolsingham has forged its own links with the town of Poix de Picardie, in northern France.

He can be contacted for information on (01388) 527238.