EXPLORATORY talks are taking place about Avebury being twinned with Malta.

A public meeting will be taking place in the village's Social centre on Tuesday June 29, 7.30pm, to gauge local support for the idea.

The suggestion of the link has come from former Wiltshire County Council policy and strategy officer John Feane who lives in Bradford on Avon.

His brother Vincent is the British High Commissioner in Malta.

John Feane said: "The Maltese government and the British High Commission are trying to organise more twinning arrangements between places in Malta and the UK."

One or two English towns have already set up community links with towns on Malta, Mr Feane said.

However there is a particular interest, he said, in twinning with the stone circle village of Avebury because parts of Malta have their own standing stones, stone circles and ancient temples.

Mr Feane said: "Malta has many ancient temples and monuments that are as old as Avebury and Stonehenge if not older."

He added: "We are already trying to set up a joint European funded scheme where the heritage side of Malta could come together with the heritage side of Avebury and Stonehenge."