Limavady can now put on a big welcome for the Guadeloupe athletes

A seven-strong Guadeloupe Special Olympics team finally arrived in host town Limavady on Thursday.

A private jet carrying the seven-strong delegation touched down at City of Derry Airport much to the delight of the Limavady host officials.

The north Derry town was scheduled to host 32 athletes and officials from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe but accreditation problems then threatened to scupper Limavady's welcome.

Limavady host official Peter Jack had been left frustrated by the confusion.

"It's been on-off, on-off and we believe that we should have been told months ago that there was a problem," Jack told the BBC.

The Limavady man blamed the French Government for the accreditation problems which put in doubt the town's planned programme of events to welcome the visitors.

We are really looking forward to showing them what we could do in terms of food and hospitality Hotelier Jim Peoples

The arrival of the small Guadeloupe squad has also delighted one local hotelier.

Hotel owner Jim Peoples said the loss of revenue would not have been the main issue.

"Knowing the team is from the Caribbean, we've been doing a bit of research into the sort of food that they might like and prepared some special menus," said Mr Peoples.

"We are really looking forward to showing them what we could do in terms of food and hospitality".