A Borehamwood brass band will visit the borough’s twin town in Germany for the first time in 14 years.

Borehamwood Brass, which has around 25 members, will play at a wine festival in Offenburg after they were invited by the city’s twin town association.

What used to be a long-standing tradition, which saw a similar German band and Borehamwood Brass make alternate visits, stopped when the German band split up in 2002.

Andrew Grady, who plays the cornet in the band, as well as being vice chair of the Borehamwood Twin Town Association (BETTA), has been trying to restore links between the two areas.

The 48-year-old said: “I heard about the wine festival so thought that might be the perfect opportunity for the band to go back.

“I am very excited about it and very pleased that we have been able to begin rebuilding some of the links that were lost when the German band split up.”

The band’s visits first started in the 1980s, and the last time Borehamwood Brass went to Offenburg was in 1998. But when the German band was disbanded contact was lost.

Mr Grady added: “It was a shame, because a new band was formed but they weren’t interested in continuing the tradition.”

Mr Grady, who grew up in East Yorkshire but now lives in Burghley Avenue, Borehamwood, met his German wife, Erika, on one of the bands trips with Offenburg in the late 90s.

The group will be making the trip to Offenburg to play their wine festival in September.