A group of Hampshire villagers met up with their French counterparts to pay their respects to the fallen.

Colden Common has been twinned with St Vigor le Grand for 46 years, and a party of 20 locals travelled to the Normandy beach-town in a twinning group.

There they enjoyed a long weekend of fraternisation with their gallic neighbours, consolidating their decades-long twinship. 

READ MORE: D-Day 80: 'We cannot be more grateful for all that they did for us'

(Image: Robin Worman)

The festivities began on Friday, June 7 - the day after D-Day - and lasted for three days.

The events included a ceremony at the Manoir du Petit Magny, where in 1944 Canadian squadrons constructed field airfields to accommodate up to 80 aircraft.

Their mission was to support the troops on the ground. 

An honoured guest was Lieutenant-General Richard Rohmer of the Canadian Armed Force, who commanded the 430th Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

At 101 years of age, he stood upright to address the many St Vigor dignitaries, including the Mayor, M. Benoît Ferrut and children and residents of St Vigor.

SEE MORE: Flag waving and flypast mark major D-Day commemorations for 80th anniversary

(Image: Robin Worman)

The weekend culminated in a drop by 24 parachutists in three sticks onto the site of the original airfield.

Over the weekend the "twinners", many of whom stayed with long-standing family contacts, were treated to a succession of meals and a barbecue.

All around the area of St Vigor, including Bayeux and Port-en-Bassin, a multitude of period military vehicles paraded, driven by re-enactors in authentic military uniform.

The atmosphere was "joyous and exciting", according to the Colden Common residents. 

Robin Worman, of Colden Common, said: "In these post-Brexit times, it really showed that there is still a feeling of friendship between the English and the French."