CIVIC leaders in west Wiltshire entertained a Polish president during his first official visit to the district.

President Slonina, of west Wiltshire's twin community Elblag, was greeted with a fanfare reception when he arrived in Trowbridge.

However, the Polish minister had to cut short his visit when a stomach bug forced him to miss Friday's black-tie dinner/dance at the Civic Hall.

President Slonina touched down on British shores last Wednesday, meeting West Wiltshire District Council chairman Marion Clegg and new chief executive Andrew Pate the next day.

A visit to the town's recycling centre in Canal Road was followed by a trip to the Railway Engineering Company in Heywood.

President Slonina met Trowbridge's Polish community at a social evening.

Civic leaders were keen to show off west Wiltshire's emergency services network, with trips to the divisional police headquarters at Semington and Trowbridge fire station.

Poland will join the European Union on May 1 and a delegation of civic officials from west Wiltshire is planning a return trip to Elblag to take part in national celebrations.