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Trowbridge in Wiltshire first in Britain to be twinned with Muslim Arab town

The Wiltshire town of Trowbridge has become the first in Britain to be twinned with a Muslim Arab town.

Trowbridge has officially been twinned with the Moroccan city of Oujda in reflection of its large Moroccan community.

Trowbridge's Moroccan Partnership Steering Group Chairman Cllr Bob Brice, said: "Hopefully we can show the rest of the country how Muslim and Christian communities can get on together."

Abdel Boutarfas, chairman of the Trowbridge Moroccan Community Association, said: "Having a twinning between a west country town and a Muslim town is significantly important. It can only help to break down barriers and have benefits for the local people in Trowbridge as well as those of Moroccan origin.

"I think it really puts Trowbrige on the map."

The Moroccan population in Trowbridge is second only to that in London with about 80 families in the town.

Many families came to the town in the 1960s in response to a need for workers at mattress maker Airsprung and food producer Bowyers.

A delegation from Trowbridge, including the mayor, went to Oudja in January to sign the twinning charter.

The town has a population of about 500,000 and is close to Algerian border.

Trowbridge is already twinned with Leer, Germany, Charenton-Le-Pont, France, and, along with the four other west Wiltshire towns, the Polish district of Elblag.

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