A PARTY of French visitors who were set to visit Bromsgrove next month have decided not to come because of the foot and mouth epidemic.

The group of between 35 and 40 are from Saint Sauveur Lendelin, in Normandy, which has a friendship link with Bromsgrove and District Twinning Association.

Association chairman David Turner, from Finstall, said: "We are all very disappointed, but we can understand why they have decide not to come."

He said he feels particularly sorry for host families in Bromsgrove who were looking forward to welcoming their guests from across the Channel from May 5 to 8.

A new date may be fixed for the autumn he added.

A civic visit by officials from Gronau, Bromsgrove's twin town in Germany, which would have taken place last weekend was called off for same reason.