A 17-year-old from Melksham so impressed a group of French visitors with his command of their language that he was invited over to France.

Sam Winslow, who is the only student studying French in Melksham Oak School’s Year 13, delivered a speech in French to a group of visitors from Melksham’s twin town of Avon.

The group, whose visit in October was designed to celebrate 30 years of twinning, were so impressed by Sam’s speech that they invited him to stay with a French family.

He went to Avon with three members of the Melksham Twinning Association, who stayed with friends in France.

Sam said: “I spoke about the importance of learning languages to help people understand different cultures. They were impressed with my French, invited me over and found a French family to host me for five days.

“I was ecstatic when they asked me. I’ve been to France a few times before, but nothing like this.”

Sam returned last week, after a five day visit which included trips to Paris and Fontainebleau, a visit to the cinema to watch Harry Potter in French and a day at the lycee in Avon when he spoke to the headteacher about setting up an exchange programme with Melksham Oak.

Sam said: “I enjoyed the visit enormously and I feel I have improved linguistically with a greater idea of colloquial language. I have also developed a greater cultural understanding by living as a French person. The family were extremely welcoming and hospitable.”

Sam, who hopes to study French and geography at university, thanked Viv Watson, president of the twinning, for organising the trip.

Mrs Watson said: “Sam is a credit to Melksham Oak school. I don’t think there are many young people who can go to a school in another country and understand what’s going on.

“He’s a pioneer of what I hope what will become more children and parents going and exchanging with families from Avon.”

Members of the town council and twinning committee on Monday unveiled a bench given to the town by Avon to commemorate 30 years of twinning. It will be kept in the grounds of Melksham House.