Corsham High Street boasted a touch of je ne se quoi as it hosted a Twinning Market and Civic Day celebration on Saturday.

The event, organised by the Civic Society, Area Development Trust and Twinning Association featured seven events to keep visitors busy, including a photographic competition, a display of work from the Pound Embroidery Group, a guided walk for primary school children, a Corsham quiz, toddler workshop sessions, a French-themed window dressing competition and the Twinning Market.

The High Street was closed to traffic, allowing people to stroll through the market’s 38 stalls.

Charles Boyle, vice-chairman of the Twinning Association, said: “All our visitors really seemed to enjoy the day so we all must have done something right. Obviously we could have done with slightly better weather as it would have complimented the ambiance.”

Mr Boyle added that the market’s stallholders seemed impressed by the turnout of visitors.

He said: “We made a profit and that’s great as it’ll help go towards our cost of travelling to Jargeau in October to celebrate Corsham’s 30-year partnership with the town.”

Mr Boyle, who has been with the association for 28 years, said he is looking forward to visiting the French town to mark the special milestone.

Other highlights of the day included the Pound Embroidery Group display of Olympic and Paralympics pennants to mark the 2012 competition, held at The Corsham Area Heritage and Information Centre.

There will be 14,000 pennants created around the country which are to be given to athletes competing at the games.

Group member Carol Bates said: “We’ve been working since Christmas and we’re very proud of the results. We had a lot of interest in them during Saturday’s events, which is always helpful.”

The 13 pennants will be sent to London very soon where they are expected to go on display as part of the 14,000 made early next year prior to the tournament.

Ian Storey of The Corsham Area Heritage and Information Centre said: “They are not at all what I originally expected but they’re wonderful. You can really notice the time and effort that has gone into them.

Mr Storey and the centre’s other staff also had a stall on the High Street, costumed as local characters.

Mr Storey said: “I dressed as William Arnold and went round the town ringing my bell, it was good fun and the centre did very well taking 100 per cent higher profits.”