WHEN the latest town twinning visit to Denbigh was arranged, four adventurous German women decided to do it the hard way – by heading for Denbigh by bike.

The town has been twinned with Biebertal in Hess, Germany, for 27 years and the townspeople visit each other on alternate years.

This week, 38 German visitors are being hosted by Denbigh, with the main party arriving by coach.

However, the advance party made up of Heidi Gareis, Doris Bader, Petra Schmidt and Silvia Henry decided to cycle from Cardiff.

Their specially printed T-shirts featured the Welsh flag and the words of “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau”, and they flew Welsh and German flags from their saddlebags along the ride.

Their journey took them through Builth Wells, Aberystwyth and Harlech to Bangor, and they were joined on the final leg by the Mayor of Denbigh, Cllr Gaynor Wood-Tickle.

On arrival at the Brookhouse Mill Restaurant they received a rapturous welcome from members of Denbigh Twinning Association.

The quartet, whose oldest member is 70, are making a video of their trip which will be accessible on their local community TV station.

To the sound of Cliff’s “Congratulations” from a car stereo: L – R Silvia Henry, Doris Bader, Heidi Gareis, Petra Schmidt and our Mayor Gaynor Wood-Tickle, who recovered in time for her Civic Ceremony the following afternoon in St. Mary’s Church, Denbigh.