York in race to win twinning battle

The city has emerged as a leading contender to provide the far-flung west African settlement with a British twin.

York will now face-off against Glastonbury, in Somerset, and Hay-on-Wye, in Wales. All three venues will receive visits from the head of the Cultural Mission of Timbuktu, Ali Ould Sidi.

The Press reported last month how York had been nominated for the twinning competition by teacher James Rourke, of Malvern Avenue.

York was one of more than 50 UK towns and cities which applied for the post. The competition has now been whittled down to three finalists, with the winner expected to be announced later this month.

To make the grade, York had to prove it had once been "an important trade hub", as well as being "a centre of learning", and boasting "a love of the written word", "unique architecture" and a "cosmopolitan mindset".

Mr Rourke said: "They're identical twins already, regardless of being twinned officially."

York is already twinned with Dijon, in France, and Munster, in Germany.

The Cultural Mission is understood to have been particularly impressed by York's interesting civic history, and is traditions of trade and architecture - something it says the Malian town shares.

The hunt for a Timbuktu twin in Britain was launched by the Cultural Mission and British photographer Stuart Redler to mark the start of his exhibition of images from the country.

He is acting as an adviser to the Cultural Mission because Mali does not have an embassy in the UK.

Mr Ould Sidi said: "The three finalists most accurately match the spirit of Timbuktu, and I am very pleased to have found such similarities in Britain.

"The decision of who wins will be very difficult indeed."

Mr Redler added: "We had a staggering amount of people applying from all corners of the country, but I think the finalists are a pretty good choice.

"It's not for me to say which I think is the best, but having visited Mali, I can see that they all have something important in common with Timbuktu."