THE half-a-century link between Musselburgh and its French twin town has been further strengthened in song.

Musselburgh’s award-winning Clark Community Choir were “treated like royalty” during a trip to Champigny at the weekend.

The singers were invited to stage a charity concert with the Migratory Choir from Champigny on Saturday and received a standing ovation.

Funds raised will go to Restaurants du Coeur (Restaurants of the Heart) – an organisation which supplies the needy with hot food and food packages.

The singers have been busy fundraising for the weekend trip for the past nine months, organising coffee mornings, sales of work, car boot sales, a Hallowe’en Hop, quiz and race nights, and a ceilidh which was also attended by Musselburgh Twinning Association and representatives from Champigny.

The choir held a sponsored skate, swim and walk. A sponsored silence, wig party and Come Dine with Me event raised cash. Candles, jewellery, cakes, plants and handmade Scottie dog gifts were also sold in aid of the French trip.

Members have been rehearsing with performances at the Edinburgh Fringe, on High Street and at Tesco in Musselburgh, and the Royal Bank of Scotland in Gogarburn, a ‘Stars in their Eyes’ concert was enjoyed. They entertained residents at nursing homes during the festive season and, last week, sung at an event for the brain injury charity Headway East Lothian.

On arrival in Champigny, the Musselburgh visitors attended a reception and were treated to a display by French country dancers. Free time included a visit to Disneyland Paris.

The choirs joined for the charity concert in the Church of St Saturnin on the Rue de Musselburgh on Saturday. Their repertoire included Highland Cathedral and La Romance. A meal of friendship was then enjoyed.

Irene Grant, spokeswoman for the Clark Community Choir, said: “We would like to thank our French hosts – the Migratory Choir and Champigny Twinning Association. We were treated like royalty. The concert was a sell out and held in a beautiful 11th-century church. We sang Highland Cathedral with the French choir and received a standing ovation, so much so we had to sing it twice!”

She added: “We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to our fundraising efforts and who has been a tremendous support to us over the past few months. Choir members can pat each other on the back for the tremendous camaraderie and support there has been among us. We’d also like to say particular thanks to the Musselburgh Twinning Association, East Lothian Council, Mansfield Court residents, Musselburgh Congregational Church, friends of the choir and members of the public who have all been so incredibly generous to us.”