A FORMER Bolton man whose family moved to Ireland 20 years ago is trying to track down a school sweetheart - with his wife's approval.

Miguel Artiguez, aged 31, recently married but he still thinks about a girl called Christina Haslem whom he met while at Holy Infants school, in Mitre Street, Astley Bridge.

The pair dated for a short period in the mid 1970s and now, Miguel wants to meet her again in a bid to renew their friendship.

Speaking from his new home in New Orleans, where he moved in April 2000, he said: "It is just something that has been on my mind for years. I recently got married and my wife thought I should try to locate her.

"I have no idea what she is like now. I'm afraid I never had a picture of her and my memory of her image is of a child."

Miguel lost contact with Christina when his family moved to Oakenbottom Road, Breightmet.

He had previously lived in Sharples Hall, Astley Bridge and the family stayed in Bolton until he was aged 11, moving to Ireland in 1980. He said: "I had a cousin that was at her school and she told me that Christina often asked about me."

Miguel has been a writer for the past ten years, penning mainly text books although he is currently working on a novel.

Are you Christina Haslem or do you know of her. Contact the BEN on 01204 361248. -- who had changed his name to Michael McCabe after taking his stepfather's surname and translating his forename into English --

He said: "I'm hoping I will renew our friendship and keep in touch with Christina. I feel an overwhelming excitement that after over 25 years I may find the woman that was my first love."

He often travels to Bolton to visit members of his family but has no plans to return permanently.