Twin mayor's high praise for city

Mayor Williams was pleasantly surprised on his arrival in the city.

The mayor of Hull's twin city in Sierra Leone has said he was surprised at the size of the east coast port during his visit to mark the annual Freetown day.

Mayor Herbert George Williams was making his first trip to the city since being elected to the top post in Freetown in July.

The two cities have been twinned since 1980 and Mr Williams said he had thought Hull was much smaller.

During the visit Mr Williams will be the guest of honour at a civic dinner.

He said the city was much bigger than he had expected and he had been given a warm reception by his hosts and people in the area.

"I was full of expectation and I was thinking that Hull was going to be a little city - in my imagination," he said.

"But when I came I found out that Hull is not that little as I was thinking and I find the people very nice and accommodating.

"I would like to come back some other time."