NEXT year marks the 50th anniversary of the twinning of Huddersfield with French town Besancon.

And to mark the occasion Kirklees Council's twinning officer, Chris Rowe, has started work on an exhibition which will be on display next year.

But first he has been set a challenge.

His counterparts in Besancon have asked him to help one of their colleagues, who is trying to trace a Huddersfield woman who stayed with her family almost 50 years ago.

Genevieve Randot said the photograph was taken in August, 1957 when she was just five years old.

In a letter she says: "The Englishwoman from Huddersfield that I am looking for was wearing a dress with flowers on and a long-sleeved, yellow cardigan.

"She had short, curly, chestnut brown hair and was called Anne Molloye.

"At that time she would be about 20. She spent several weeks on holiday with us. The other people in the photograph are my parents, Pierre and Jeanne Randot, my grandparents, my sister and one of my two brothers.

"I am the one in the chair in the centre of the photograph.

"The picture was taken in the country, by the Saint Point lake, 75 kilometres from Besancon.

"I would love to find Anne Molloye, who I clearly remember, even if it was a long time ago. My mother, who is now 89 years old, would also like to find her.

"Unfortunately after a few letters and cards we lost touch and don't even know if she married."

Mr Rowe said it would be great if anybody did know the whereabouts of Anne Molloye.

"I would love to hear from other people who have been involved with Besancon over the past 50 years and to see any relevant photos they may have."

Since 1955, Huddersfield, and then Kirklees, has developed twinning relationships with Kreis Unna, Germany (1967), Kustani in Kazakhstan (1989) and Bielsko Biala, Poland, in 1991.

"The German link came about when there was an atmosphere of reconciliation. The eastern European twinning happened about the time of glasnost," said Mr Rowe.

He added: "There have been a lot of benefits, not only in terms of exchanges and work experience. There has been a lot of partnership work on European projects and, of course, the traditional links involving sport and choirs.

"We also do an awful lot of work with schools and encourage children to develop friends and understand that different cultures do exist."

Anyone who has any photos of twinning events with Besancon should phone Mr Rowe on 01484 221780.