The leading civic figure from a town called Louny has visited Worthing.

Jan Kerner, Mayor of Louny in the Czech Republic, was greeted at the town hall by Mayor of Worthing Eric Mardell.

The pair enjoyed a cup of tea in the mayor's parlour and exchanged gifts.

Mr Kerner has a wife, Iris, and a four-year-old daughter, Sonia.

Angela Rabone, of Durrington Lane, Worthing, who helped organise the meeting, said: "I have known Jan since I was 14, when I met him on a friendship camp in what was then Czechoslovakia.

"We have remained good friends ever since and managed to meet once every year, taking turns to visit each others' countries.

"Jan and Iris both speak fluent English. In fact Iris lived with us for a month while she completed an English language course at a college in Worthing several years ago."