A CANADIAN couple have been re-united with long-lost relatives in Leigh - thanks to the Leigh Journal website.

Retired Leigh couple Ernest and Joan Thomason played host to Canadian relatives that they did not even know they had until they read an article This is Leigh at http://www.thisisleigh.co.uk/oldpals.

Cathy and Dennis Bachmiere from Barriere, near Vancouver placed an advert in the 'Old Pals' column last August trying to trace relatives of Cathy's grandfather -- William Lord -- who had emigrated from Leigh to Canada in 1927.

Joan, aged 70, was reading the Journal at her Greendale Crescent home when she came across the article and remembered Ernest's uncle had been called William Lord.

She said: "We e-mailed Cathy as my son has the Internet and we sent her some photos of Ernest's uncle to make sure that he was her grandfather.

"My husband does remember his uncle has he came over to visit 1959 -- he died a year later in 1960, so it was nice that he was able to come over when he did.

"He emigrated with six children in 1927 and had another four while living in Canada."

After William returned to Canada, Joan and Ernest lost touch with him as they were busy raising their children Colin and Shirley.

More than 40 years after William's last visit to Leigh the couple could hardly believe it when they saw that his relations were looking for them.

Joan said: "We didn't even know Cathy and Dennis existed. All we knew is that William Lord emigrated and that was it."

The new found relatives struck up a correspondence through phone calls and e-mail and this week Cathy and Dennis arrived in England to visit their long-lost family.

Joan said: "They are good people, it's all been really nice. They run their own heavy vehicles business and have two sons. Our son is definitely going to go over and visit them.

"Leigh is very different to where they live. The nearest shopping centre to their home is about 30 or 40 miles away."

During their trip to England, Cathy and Dennis have been busy looking around Leigh, have visited Atherton and Tyldesley Parish Churches, have been in local pubs and have journeyed to Tatton Park. They have even been to local supermarkets to compare what the food is like here.

The Canadians have been surprised by the narrowness of British roads and are getting to grips with Leigh accents and slang words.

Cathy is still searching for relatives of her grandmother - Annie Thomason - who originally came from Atherton. However, as yet no relatives have come forward.

Before they go home to Canada, Cathy and Dennis will stop in Paris for a short holiday.