Tricolour flags decorated a hall as people said a welcoming bonjour to a Bastille Day celebration.

The Borehamwood and Elstree Twin Town Association (BETTA) held the Bastille Ball in the Wood – an evening of dancing, music, comedy and food to mark the day.

The historic day, which is celebrated on July 14, commemorates the Storming of the Bastille in 1789.

People piled into Fairway Hall to remember the day, which is known as Le Quatorze Juillet in France.

They sang God Save the Queen and La Marseillaise, the English and French national anthems.

Accordionist Roswitha Lamb serenaded the crowd and Borehamwood Community Choir provided other musical entertainment.

Guests wore colourful red, white and blue costumes – the colour of the French flag.

Town mayor Councillor Richard Butler and mayoress Cllr Rebecca Challice joined in the fun, with other councillors and their partners.

BETTA’s chairman Martine Eni, who lives in Mulhouse, in Aslace, said: “What a night. This really showed what the BETTA team can do.

“Everyone could see what we give the people of this town - fun, friendship and fraternity. We really had a ball.”

Borehamwood is twinned with Fontenay-aux-Roses, a village on the outskirts of Paris.

For more information about town twinning, please contact BETTA by email at bettagroup@hotmail.com or phone on 07717176869 or 0203 441 6510.