A TAVISTOCK charity is set to benefit from a special event being held in France this week, proving the positive power of the twinning movement.

Some 20 clubs and youth organisations from Tavistock's twin town, Pontivy, staged a special concert and fete yesterday (Wednesday) on Europe Day, to raise money for the Mary Budding Trust and charities in their own area.

The Mary Budding Trust supports West Devon children under the age of eleven who have special needs.

One of its founders, former Tavistock Primary School headteacher Tony Wates, said the trust was hugely grateful for the generous gesture from Pontivy, particularly during a time when it was difficult to raise money within the community.

Mr Wates said: 'It is both generous and unusual for a foreign twinning town to support one of our local Tavistock charities.

'Pontivy's twinning association is sending Nolwen le Goff, a young lady representative, to visit Tavistock on a fact-finding tour, to further our town links as well as present a cheque to the Mary Budding Trust.'

Mr Wates said it was hoped that the mayor of Tavistock would accept the cheque on behalf of the trust when Mselle Le Goff visits the town next week.

He said: 'The trust has always been given great support by the town council — in the past by the late Robin Fenner, who was the trust's first chairman, and in recent years by Norma Woodcock, the charity's honourary treasurer and Cllr Robin Pike, who nominated the trust as one of his charities during his year in office as mayor of Tavistock.'

Mr Wates said although the trust was a small charity, it provided genuinely helpful support to children, and he was touched by the generosity of Pontivy's residents.

'I know our friends in Pontivy are keen to encourge the younger generation to take up the twinning baton, so that older people like me can enjoy the merits of new ideas and perspectives,' he added.