Worthing's French twin region wants to honour the seaside resort - by naming a roundabout after it.

The Mayor of Worthing has been invited to attend the official unveiling of the roundabout in Les Pays des Olonnes, south of Brittany, in July.

It will be the first time a landmark in the area has been named after its English partner.

Twinning Association spokeswoman Brigitte Pierce said: "This is a tremendous gesture of goodwill.

"The region has been twinned with the German town of Schwabach for 30 years, which has a roundabout named after it.

"Worthing has only had a French twin since 1998 but the French thought it would be nice if we had one named after us."

Councillor Valerie Sutton, who will be deputy mayor in July, and her consort Stan Moore will represent Worthing Borough Council at the ceremony.

The next Worthing Mayor, councillor John Livermore, could not go because he will be attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

The roundabout, in the region's seaside resort of Les Sables D'Olonne, is expected to raise the profile of Worthing.

The French town hosts more than 100,000 visitors each summer, many from Paris.

The picturesque area also contains the towns of Olonne Sur Mer and Le Chateau D'Olonne.

Mrs Pierce said: "The twinning of regions is a lovely idea.

"When you go abroad and see signs mentioning Worthing, you feel there is a warm welcome waiting for you, a sense of homecoming.

"We would now like to name a roundabout in Worthing after it's French or German twin region."

Members of the Worthing Twinning Association will attend the ceremony and a band from Boundstone College will provide the music in France on July 17.

One afternoon during the week-long trip will be dedicated to visiting graves of British airmen who died in the region during the Second World War.

A Boundstone College musician will play the Last Post at a memorial service attended by the British and French.