The French have paid their respects to Allied war dead in a ceremony attended by a delegation from Worthing.

Worthing Mayor Eric Mardell and his wife Elizabeth laid flowers on the graves of troops during a visit to Les Sables D'Olonne, which is twinned with the town.

The ceremony took place shortly before a First World War cemetery at Etaples in northern France was desecrated by vandals.

They daubed graffiti on a cross of remembrance, saying the bodies of British troops were contaminating French soil.

Jacques Chiraq, president of France, who is against the war in Iraq, later sent an apology to the Queen.

Brigitte Pierce, of Worthing Twinning Association, said: "A very special ceremony had been planned for Monday afternoon, an official visit to all 22 Commonwealth war graves in the three cemeteries, attended by local dignitaries and French war veterans associations proudly wearing their medals and carrying banners.

"We were all given bunches of flowers in red, white and blue, with matching ribbons, to be laid on each grave.

"After the Last Post, played by a lone trumpeter, a minute's silence was observed, with our heads bowed.

"The very moving and dignified ceremony was concluded by the playing and singing of God Save the Queen and the Marseillaise and the unveiling of a plaque by the Mayor which read, Presented by the Mayor of Worthing, Councillor Eric Mardell, on behalf of the people of Worthing, March 24, 2003.

In gratitude to the members of the Allied Forces who sacrificed their lives for the benefit of others. We will remember them'.

"Bearing in mind the recent shameful desecration of a British war cemetery in France, which prompted President Chiraq to write to the Queen expressing his regrets, we are glad to have observed the French people do indeed remember the debt they owe to those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom in Europe."

The Mayor and Mayoress were accompanied by 12 members of the twinning association for the trip to the Atlantic region of France.

At Nantes airport they were welcomed by Francois Cariou and taken by coach to the Golf Club at Olonne Sur Mer, where their hosts had organised a cold buffet.

An embroidered wall-hanging, made by the Worthing Embroiderers' Guild, was presented at the town hall of Les Sables D'Olonne and was muchadmired by the French Mayor, Louis Guedon.

Monsieur Guedon, in return, gave Councillor Mardell a painting of a sailing ship, which will be hung in the Mayor's parlour.

Mrs Pierce said: "The hospitality was quite overwhelming and many new ties of friendship were forged on this visit."

She stressed that the visit, and an earlier one to the Black Forest region of Germany, had been paid for privately and no expense was incurred by council tax payers.