WHEN proud dad Tim Farnhill celebrated the birth of his daughter, he told the whole world about it - by announcing it on the Internet!

And almost three months after the birth of Madeleine Ruby, he is still receiving e-mails from across the world congratulating him on the latest arrival.

Tim - who moved to Preston with his wife Alison to start Preston Bineyard, a Christian church which aims to spread the love of God - put the news on the website he had created to promote the church, which now has more than 20 members.

Visitors to the website were told how Madeline weighed in at 6lbs 12 ozs, and how her mum and dad were 'proud', while her older brother and sister were said 'ecstatic'.

Tim said: "I regularly update the site with details of what our church is doing, including events we are holding and how things are progressing.

"There are a group of people who look at the site on a regular basis and I thought it was worth putting up details about Madeleine because, to us, it was so important.

"It was very touching to get the e-mails.

"They were a surprise but it shows people are reading our site."

Tim, of Houghton Road, Penwortham, moved up to Preston with his family in January 1998 to give the area its first Vineyard Church.

He started with nine members when the group first met in September last year, and, a year on, that has now doubled to 18 with a Sunday School in the offing as well. He added: "We have a good relationship with local churches and more and more people are hearing about us."

For more details on the church, ring 751927 or contact admin@presvine.u-net.com

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