A SPECTACULAR celebration of Rossendale's twinning links with German town Bocholt will be held on October 12 and 13.

A total of 250 people from Bocholt will travel to the borough to join in the 50th anniversary celebrations and it is planned to hold a festival for Bocholt next Sunday.

Celebrations of the anniversary began in February when 70 people from Rossendale took part in the Karneval in Bocholt and a commemorative plaque in beech wood was presented.

Shawforth Majorettes and Bacup St John's Scout Band are each playing host to music groups from Germany and will hold a day-long event, to be hosted by the Friends of Bocholt on the Sunday in Rawtenstall's Astoria Ballroom.