IT's Fika time at the Talbot Hotel as Ledbury celebrates links with Stromstad in Sweden.

Taking place on Saturday October 26 at the Talbot at 10.30am-12noon a special coffee morning will be held.

Fika is an important concept in Swedish culture where people get together for coffee and pastries.

Swedes have Fika often with pastries, although coffee can be replaced by tea, juice, lemonade, hot chocolate, or squash for children.

The tradition has spread throughout Swedish businesses around the world.

Fika is a social institution in Sweden and the practice of taking a break with a beverage and snack is widely accepted as central to Swedish life.

As a common mid-morning and mid-afternoon practice at workplaces in Sweden, Fika may also function partially as an informal meeting between co-workers and management people, and it may even be considered impolite not to join in.

Fika often takes place in a meeting room or a designated Fika room. A sandwich, some fruit, or a small meal may be called Fika like the English concept of afternoon tea.

The meeting in Ledbury will be attended by the Mayor Stephen Chownes and there will be a raffle held on the day to win a hamper of Swedish goodies.

Proceeds from the raffle will be split between the Twinning Association and the Mayor's charities the Ledbury Refugee Support and the Alzheimer's Society.