A NUMBER of towns and villages across Cumbria have formed partnerships with settlements across the globe – here's just a handful of those twinnings.

Carlisle

Carlisle is twinned with Flensburg in northern Germany and Slupsk in Poland, with each city enjoying the benefits of cross-cultural links through music concerts, sports events and school exchanges.

Flensburg is in northern Germany, on the border with Denmark and close to the sea. Like Carlisle, the city was subject to protracted border disputes.

Founded by Danes in the 12th century, the city became part of Germany in 1864, and today proudly displays evidence of both cultures. With their similar geographical and historical backgrounds, Carlisle and Flensburg were ideal partners for twinning - an event made official on June 29, 1961.

Slupsk is a city in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the northern part of Poland. Before 1 January 1999 it was the capital of the separate Slupsk Voivodeship. It is also part of the historic region of Pomerania. Slupsk shares many similarities with Carlisle, being a northern city with a historical old town, a rich heritage and enjoying a mix of cultural influences.

The city is located in the northwestern part of present-day Poland, near the Baltic Sea on the Slupia River.

Carlisle and Slupsk were formally twinned on April 3 1987.

Brampton

Brampton is twinned with Marmagne, Cher and Berry-Bouy (as a single twin town) in France.

The village of Berry-Bouy is a small french village located center of France.

The town of Berry-Bouy is located in the department of Cher of the french region Centre. The town of Berry-Bouy is located in the township of Mehun-sur-Yèvre part of the district of Vierzon.

The population of Berry-Bouy was 934 in 1999, 1 092 in 2006 and 1 113 in 2007. The population density of Berry-Bouy is 36.05 inhabitants per km².

Brampton celebrated 20 years of town twinning in 2019.

Coniston

Coniston is twinned with Illiers-Combray, France as well as Solto Collina, Riva di Solto and Fonteno in Italy.

Illiers-Combray is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in north central France.

Solto Collina is a comune in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 80 kilometres northeast of Milan and about 30 kilometres northeast of Bergamo.

Cockermouth

Cockermouth celebrated 35 years of twinning with Marvejols, France in 2018.

Since 1983 more than 12,000 people - from Cockermouth and Marvejols - have been involved in more than 200 group exchanges between the two towns.

As well as the biennial visits to each town, exchanges have taken place between groups including schools, choirs, sports groups, farmers and musicians.

While Cockermouth now has Marvejols Park, the twin town boasts a Cockermouth roundabout, with a traditional red telephone box, a sign showing the distance to Cockermouth and a display of daffodils.

Dalton-in-Furness

Dalton-in-Furness is twinned with Dalton in Pennsylvania, USA.

Dalton is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, USA. It is located about eight miles north of the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania in a growing suburban area known as the "Abingtons."

Dalton is also about three miles north of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, the hub of the Abington community. The population was 1,234 at the 2010 census.

Kendal

Kendal has been twinned with Killarney for many years. Known as the ‘Gateway to Ireland’s Majestic South West’ Kendal and Killarney share many similarities, including a Lake District on its doorstep.

Kendal has been twinned with Rinteln, Germany since 1991. Rinteln is situated on the River Weser in the region of Lower Saxony about 60 kilometres west of Hanover and 25 kilometres North West of Hamelin.

Rinteln, with its small but fine Altstadt (old town) is considered a jewel of the Weser Renaissance (1520-1620).

The historic centre with its market place is decked out with gorgeous bay windows, gables, shell ornaments, fan-rosettes, scrolls, cornices and a host of timber frames.

Penrith

Since 1989 Penrith has had a twinning arrangement with the Australian city named after it in New South Wales.

Penrith is a suburb and major centre in the metropolitan area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Nepean River.

Sedbergh

Sedbergh has been twinned with the Slovenian town of Zreče since 2005. The twinning came about in an unusual way – via a television programme.

The twinning process has resulted in the establishment of numerous links between the two towns.

Each year sees exchange visits between pupils from Zreče and settlebeck school in Sedbergh.

Music features strongly in the theme of many exchange visits between talented musicians and singers from both towns.

Ulverston

Ulverston is twinned with the French town of Albert, situated in the Somme region of France, north of Paris and not far from Amiens. Albert is a town heavily charged with history and is in the heart of the Somme battle fields. More recently the 'Ulverton Trench' was found near to the town of Albert.

Workington

Workington Town Council continues to enjoy a friendship with Workington’s twinned towns of Selm, Germany and Val de Reuil, France.

The town council strongly believes in the benefits of twinning to develop relations, promoting social interaction and cultural exchange between individuals and groups in different countries with the people of Workington. Workington has been actively twinning with Selm and Val de Reuil for more than 20 years.

Windermere

Windermere is twinned with Diessen in Germany. There is a regular annual school exchange with Lakes School and activities take place every year. This includes the visit from the Diessen Blassergruppe, who play at the Glebe Bandstand.