Kirkcaldy is flying a flag to celebrate a special twinning anniversary.

Area Committee Chair Councillor Neil Crooks joined members of the Kirkcaldy Ingolstadt Association to raise a City Of Ingolstadt Flag at the Town House last week.

The flag was raised to commemorate the upcoming 50 year anniversary of the twinning between Kirkcaldy and Ingolstadt.

The flag will fly until September 3, the date the twinning agreement began.

The Kirkcaldy Area Committee also recently agreed that £9,355 should be given from the area budget towards the Ingolstadt 50^th anniversary celebrations.

Different events for the whole community, entitled the Festival of Friendship, are planned by the Kirkcaldy Ingolstadt Association to mark the milestone.

Councillor Neil Crooks said: “Kirkcaldy’s link with Ingolstadt is extremely important and has brought many great benefits to local people and the area over the years.

“I hope as many people as possible attend the programme of events planned for the anniversary and celebrate the close relationship between our two towns which has been built up over the last half century.”

Robert Main Chairman of the Ingolstadt Association explained one of the events to be held as part of the Festival of Friendship will be the popular traditional Ingolstadt Beer and Music Festival in the Town Square from 30 August until 2 September.

The Area Committee and other funding will also be used by the Association to support other celebratory activities during the anniversary year too.

He said: “As well as the Festival of Friendship, local musicians and groups will take part in the anniversary Scottish Bavarian Week a youth music exchange programme which will see the young people perform in various venues in Ingolstadt. In addition, the Kirkcaldy Ingolstadt Association will once again present a promotional stand at the biannual Ingolstadt trade and tourist exhibition in March next year.

“Being twinned with Ingolstadt has brought a great many benefits to the local community both young and old, but perhaps the most important has been the great friendships established over the years.

“We want to ensure we continue to develop these friendships and build new relationships through our twinning links in this anniversary year and in the future.”