AN EXHIBITION celebrating the culture of Leigh and its twinned town in France has opened in the town.

#LoveYourTwinTown was launched by the ambassadress for Angers Lucie Thecua to honour Wigan borough’s twinning relationship with the French town.

The ambassadress for Wigan Eve Davis supported the project and encouraged residents of Angers to share their favourite photographs together with people in Leigh.

More than 270 snapshots were sent in and a panel of judges selected 40 images that would go on display at Leigh Library following a virtual exhibition on social media.

Lucie said: “Working on the exhibition has been really inspiring because I’ve seen lots of great photographs showcasing the beauty of both towns.

“We were delighted with the response and quality of photographs we received and I’d like to thank everyone who got involved.

“The images are wide ranging and show Mesnes Park, Leeds and Liverpool Canal and Leigh Town Hall as well as popular places in Angers such as Pont de Verdun, Castle of Angers and the Cathedral.

“Launching the images on Instagram also meant that people from both Wigan and Angers could connect and enjoy the exhibition virtually.

“The photographs will stay on the Instagram page for those who can’t visit the library.”

The project falls in line with the borough’s cultural manifesto and commitment to making arts and culture accessible to everyone by encouraging local people to express their creativity through photography.

#LoveYourTwinTown showcases the diversity, landscapes and heritage of Wigan Borough and Angers by bringing together two cultures in one place.

Wigan has been twinned with Angers for more than 33 years with the lasting friendship beginning in the late 1970s as a cultural exchange between two colleges and this was made official in 1988.

The twinning relationship has continued to grow and now involves a wide network of organisations, including businesses, schools and colleges as well as sports, culture and community groups.

More information is available by visiting www.wigan.gov.uk and searching for town twinning.

The photographs are free to view between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday, and will also be on display during the Wigan Arts Festival until Saturday, 14 August.

For anyone unable to visit the library, the photographs can be accessed on Instagram via @ambassadress_from_angers.