A GIANT postcard featuring iconic images of Cirencester and the Australian city of Bathurst has been visiting the schools and businesses of the Cotswold town, collecting signatures.

The card stands at 4ft by 6ft and has been created as part of the initiative to bring the two capitols closer together via commerce, tourism, sports, the arts, community and education.

It is to be sent to the New South Wales city once it has been completed via a public competition.

First to view and sign the card were students of Cirencester Sixth Form College, followed by freshers from the Royal Agricultural University and later on signatures were added from Deer Park School.

Jim Grant, Principal of Cirencester Sixth Form College, said that he “welcomed the potential to encourage educational partnership with Bathurst, Australia.”

“This arrangement is particularly interesting given the strong media emphasis at university level in Bathurst and the opening of our new media suite, part of our STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths] project.

“The fact that Bathurst are reaching out to Cirencester is a strong measure of global friendship in the 21st century and it is important that the significant population of young people, studying in Cirencester at the sixth form college, can embrace these international initiatives and opportunities at this formative part of their lives.”

Former town mayor Mark Harris, who has been involved in initiative since the beginning, said: “We have been spreading the word about the initiative across the town.”

“It has been signed by the young and old of the town including MP Geoffrey Clifton Brown, who signed it at the Cirencester Business Club.

“The public launch of the initiative is coming up (October 18) at the parish church so we are looking forward to hearing what great ideas the businesses and groups of Cirencester have to carry this idea forward.”