A former Cockermouth School pupil who is part of a group of anti-nuclear weapons campaigners which has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize has also been honoured by a French town.

The work of Richard Moyes, who left the school in 1991, and other members of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was honoured because of their "ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty prohibition" on nuclear weapons.

Cockermouth's twin town of Marvejols, which Richard has visited many times over the years, has now awarded him the Marvejols Medal of Honour.

The award was presented to his parents, Dianne and John, of Parkside Avenue, at a civic ceremony in Marvejols which was attended by about 100 people - including 40 from Cockermouth.

Mr Moyes said: "Apparently it is awarded fairly rarely. Because of Richard's association with the Nobel prize and Marvejols they wanted to award him."

Richard first visited the town on a school exchange 30 years ago. His parents bought a holiday cottage there when they retired from their teaching jobs and Richard regularly stays with his family.

"Richard knows the town very well and the councillors were keen to honour him. It was very nice, Richard was absolutely thrilled," said John.

Forty Cockermouth people spent six days in France, marking the 34th anniversary of the twinning.

Many of them stayed with host families and were treated to a packed programme. As well as visiting a chateau, museums and the theatre, they enjoyed an anniversary dinner and picnic. Also on offer was cheese-tasting, cookery workshops and boules.

Town council clerk Sheila Brown said: "We had a great week. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience."