SUPERGRAN Ada Gibson has made her mark in North Carolina with the help of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and the Internet.

A family who moved to America from the Accrington area over 20 years ago came across the writings of Ada Gibson when they were reading the Telegraph on the Internet. The Tophams, who now live in Wilmington, sent a greeting to the 80-year-old Clayton-le-Moors character from across the Atlantic.

Michelle Topham, wrote the message on the Internet on behalf of her parents Barbara and Derek and grandmother Edna Altham.

She said: "When we pulled up the pages of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph on the Internet we were pleasantly surprised to see a letter from Ada Gibson.

"My mother used to work with Mrs Gibson 20 years ago in Clayton-le-Moors when we still lived in England.

"To Ada Gibson and to all in Lancashire greetings from North Carolina."

Ada, aged 81, of Grange Street, was stunned to hear from the Tophams.

She said: "Barbara was my boss when I worked at Le-More fashions and she was a beautiful, beautiful person. It was a real shock to hear from her and her family again after all these years. I knew she had moved out of the area but didn't realise she had gone to live in America."

Ada, who is well known for her poetry writing, fund-raising and appearances on local radio, added: "I used to often think about Barbara and wondered what happened to her.

"She was a very fair boss and was always willing to lend folk a hand when they needed help. It is lovely to hear from her again."

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