A GROUP of Italian visitors came to Crewe last week and were greeted by the new Mayor of Cheshire East Margaret Simon.

The party was made up of the Mayor of Canosa Sannita, the commune’s former mayor and some 15 young people.

Clr Simon and Italian Mayor Aldo Nani exchanged greetings and gifts and, through an interpreter, discussed matters of mutual interest.

The visit was organised by local lecturer Barry Curtis, who is very familiar with the Italian region of Abruzzo, which takes in the Apennine mountains and coast on the Eastern seaboard at the same latitude as Rome to the West.

The town is close to the university city of Chieti and the rich agricultural plane is famous for its wine, Montepulciano, its olive oil and fruit-growing.

Clr Simon said: “I was really delighted to greet the Mayor and the young visitors to Cheshire.

“Like Abruzzo, we are an area that takes pride in the exceptional quality of our fresh farm produce.

“This was the first group from another country that I have had the pleasure of welcoming in the capacity of Mayor and I look forward to representing and promoting the area during my term of office.”