A FAMILY of seven brothers and sisters separated by three continents have been reunited for the first time in 37 years.

The magnificent seven -- who emigrated to opposite ends of the globe -- were reunited at the house of Brenda Thornley, a friend of the family.

They met at her house in Bromley Cross for a celebration and a nostalgic look back at their childhood.

They revisited their old house at McKenzie Street, Astley Bridge, and met their former neighbour, Annie Fallon, for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Twins Margaret and Kathleen left the family home to start new lives in America in 1963. Soon after, brothers Joe, Ray and David succumbed and emigrated to Australia.

Youngest sister Doreen followed in Margaret and Kathleen's footsteps and flew off to Connecticut.

This left parents Bert and Kathleen and eldest son Fred in Bolton.

They have each clocked up thousands of air-miles over the years visiting one another.

But the family had not all been together for a quarter-of-a-century.

They visited the house in in Radcliffe Road where they were born, before paying their respects to their parents at the Overdale Garden of Remembrance.