A POPULAR Tavistock baker who moved to France ten years ago, returned to the town last week — bringing with him a host of fellow French villagers.

Bill Foster baked treats for the town for more than 30 years before he retired to the French village of Olargues in the Languedoc-Roussillon region and was made very welcome by the villagers.

Bill had told his fellow villagers all about his home town and many said they would like to visit but were worried because they did not speak the language. So he decided to organise a trip for them to the West Country.

Bill and the visitors only spent four days in Devon but in that time they took a trip to Exeter to see the cathedral, visited Morwellham Quay and went walking on Dartmoor as well as wandering around to see what Tavistock has to offer.

While in the town the visitors were given a special welcome in French by town crier David Turner.

Bill said: 'Most haven't been to England before and certainly not the South West — they were too scared because they don't speak the language.

'They have all had a fantastic time. They think the countryside is so green and loved the patchwork fields. They were even happy with the rain — they don't see a lot of it. We were given a warm welcome and we've even impressed them with the food here!'