LYME REGIS, England -- The birthplace of Bermuda's founder was last night gearing up for a twinning ceremony with St. George's -- the first formal links the English port of Lyme Regis has forged in more than one thousand years of history.

Shops in the ancient Dorset town -- the birthplace of Sir George Somers who claimed Bermuda for the British Crown -- were yesterday decked with posters of the Island.

One souvenir shop had a full size dummy dressed in period costume complete with a model of Sir George's ship, the Sea Venture , which was wrecked on Bermuda's reef in 1609.

Chairman of the Lyme Regis St. George's twinning association, former Town Crier Richard Fox, said: "I took a straw poll in the street and 90 percent of the people I spoke to said it was a wonderful idea to twin with St. George's.

"And I spoke to 40 different organisations and I had a similar response.

"From that I took the mandate from the town's people that the committee should do everything they could to continue the twinning process.'' Mr. Fox added that it was hoped that the ceremony would be a catalyst for a host of links between the two towns.

He said the Dorset Fire Brigade had already contacted their counterparts in St. George's and plans had been made for links between Lyme Regis Golf Club and the local yacht club with counterparts in Bermuda.

He said: "I'd like to see a golf tournament between a Bermudian club and Lyme Regis and maybe an exchange programme involving young sailors.'' Lyme Regis Mayor Barbara Austin said she was delighted that her town would be cementing its unique historic links with Bermuda.

She added: "I'm sure that the twinning will be a great success and that the great distance between our towns will be spanned with ease through the warmth of our relationship and the genuine respect we have for each other.

"We look forward to meaningful exchanges between people of all walks of life and ever-strengthening links which will come with the march of time.'' Mr. Fox added that many people from Lyme Regis were aware of the historic links with Bermuda.

He added: "One of our town councillors -- when we were discussing twinning earlier this year -- did say he didn't know how many of the natives of Lyme Regis would know where Bermuda was.

"The town was in an absolute uproar -- they were insulted that somebody would think they didn't know their history and geography.'' The programme today includes a flag ceremony and proclamations by the Lyme Regis Town Crier and St. George's Town Crier Richard Elsom.

Lyme Regis will also present a ceremonial Town Crier's bell to St. George's Mayor Henry Hayward.

Bermudian guests will also visit the ancient home of Sir George Somers, Berne Manor, visit his grave at the church of St. Candida and the Holy Cross at nearby Whitchurch Canicorum and view new road signs announcing the twinning link.

Two time capsules will also be prepared to be buried in Lyme Regis and St.

George's and will be retrieved in one hundred years time.

The local newspaper, The Lyme Regis News, has published an eight page colour supplement to mark the occasion.

It includes a message from Premier David Saul.

Dr. Saul said: "Bermuda, Britain's oldest colony, is happy to be part of this twinning project and thanks Lyme Regis for Admiral Sir George Somers.

"Much of the Island's history and its cultural roots are embedded in St.

George's where our links with Lyme Regis began.'' Mr. Hayward, who arrived in Lyme Regis yesterday after receiving the MBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, said he was amazed at the interest the twinning ceremony had generated in Lyme Regis.

He added: "I enjoyed the investiture at Buckingham Palace very much.

"It all went very smoothly. We chatted about the twinning and she said she had sent greetings which will be read out today.

"She visited Bermuda a year ago in March and she sounded as if she knew quite a bit about it.'' Mr. Hayward added that he was not the only Bermudian present at Buckingham Palace -- Margaret Swan, mother of former Premier Sir John Swan, was also awarded the MBE.