SWINDON could soon be twinned with a third foreign town if moves to establish links in Poland come to fruition.

The town's twinning committee has decided to investigate locating a suitable Polish town to share cultural and business links with Swindon.

It would become Swindon's third twinned town, adding to its 30 year relationship with Salzgitter in Germany and 10 year bond with Oco-tal in Nicaragua.

Deputy Swindon mayor Stan Pajak, who sits on the twinning committee, said it was felt that it was time to expand the twinning movement.

He said: "A lot of Polish people came here after the war and there is now a big Polish community of something like 3,000 people living in Swindon.

"This community has been think-ing about doing this for some time, so I put it to the committee and we have agreed to look into it.

"There are several places we're interested in and we want to make sure it's a lively place with which we can enjoy a good cultural exchange.

"We hope to come up with some ideas over the next few weeks and come back early in the New Year with a proposal for a town we hope to twin with.

"I think it will expand our horizons as a town and be of great benefit to business and culture here there's a lot to be gained from it."

Swindon mayor David Cox has just returned from an official visit to Ocotal, in which he was presented with the key to the town.

The link is more than ceremonial. In 1998 Swindon raised £27,000 for the town when it was ravaged by Hurricane Mitch, one of the fiercest storms ever recorded.

Any new link with a town in Poland would promote both cultural and economic links.

It would be set up in consultation with the town's Polish community.