A councillor involved in twinning Borehamwood with a city in China says the process is a “step forward” for the town.

After four years, delegates from Borehamwood, including Cllrs Sandra Parnell and Clive Butchins, took a trip to Huainan, a city of more than two million people.

The trip was paid out of the councillor’s own pockets and Cllr Parnell is adamant that the process “hasn’t cost the council a penny”.

“This has all been completely authentic. We had an amazing time in Huainan and the people there were wonderful.

“The mayor commented that Borehamwood sounds fantastic and he especially liked the television studios and football club. He said he was ‘honoured’ to be partnered with Elstree and Borehamwood.”

The relationship formed between Borehamwood and China left residents with plenty of questions, not least about how open the process had been.

Cllr Parnell admitted: “This could have been done more openly. We would have always have done this but I do regret not involving more people.”

The possibility of exchange trips has been discussed but Cllr Parnell says that bonds don’t have to be formed between pupils in person.

“We have Skype and there’s pen-pals as well. The children we met out in China were so fantastic and ours in Borehamwood could learn so much.”

“I can’t tell you how an exchange trip would be funded but it is something that we are looking at.

“And I encourage everyone to get in touch with ideas of how we could make our new relationship even better.

“I am fed up of Borehamwood not being taken seriously. We have been praised by the Foreign Office for forming these links and I think we should be really excited.”

Cllr Parnell added that BETTA, Elstree and Borehamwood Twin Town Association chose not to get involved as they were satisfied with the existing links. Borehamwood is currently twinned with Fontenay-aux-Roses in France and Offenburg, Germany.