IT’S A tale of two towns.

What happens when someone trying to advertise their yoga classes goes online and gets Hythe in Hampshire mixed up with Hythe in Kent?

For David and Jan Morris it was the start of an unusual friendship that is about to result in the second of two exchange visits.

Two years ago David launched Hythe and Waterside People – a Facebook group for people living on the western shores of Southampton Water.

It has almost 5,000 members, including former Hythe residents now living in America, Australia and Switzerland.

David, 64, said: “About 18 months ago a woman named Kyra Mann asked to join the group and advertise her yoga classes.

“She thought the Facebook site was about Hythe in Kent and applied in all good faith. I realised her mistake as soon as I saw her request to join and invited her to write monthly posts about life in ‘her’ Hythe.”

In July last year David arranged a coach trip to Kent called Hythe2Hythe.

He said: “It’s a very pretty town which is about the same size as our Hythe but quite different in other ways. For one thing it fronts the sea whereas we look out on an estuary.

“When we arrived Kyra took us to see the local sites, including a church with a famous collection of skeletons.

“The only negative aspect was arriving about an hour late after getting stuck on the M25 because of a problem with the Channel Tunnel.”

Kyra added: “I was so relieved when their coach finally arrived I was jumping with excitement.

“I said my hellos, handed out a local map and suggested things they might like to do, including places to eat and drink.

“I had such a nice day showing off our beautiful town and meeting lovely people who had taken the trouble to come all this way.”

Now Kyra is returning the compliment by visiting Hampshire later this week to see her home town’s namesake.

David and his wife Jan will give her a guided tour of the parish as well as her taking her to nearby parts of the New Forest, including Lepe and Calshot.

The tour could include the Langley Tavern and Fountain Court, the two pubs where the couple present regular quiz nights.