A WOMAN travelled half way around the world to give her father a 60th birthday surprise - by jumping out of a giant, gift wrapped present.

The Dean of Blackburn the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong's daughter Sarah, 29, has been teaching in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, since marrying in the summer.

And the Dean said the birthday surprise, just before Christmas, had left him shocked - especially because all he expected for his birthday was a watering can!

He said: "I knew my daughter would not be home for Christmas, I had even sent her presents just days before my birthday. It was a wonderful surprise to have her home."

Dean Armstrong was in meetings at Blackburn Cathedral on his birthday, December 18, when he was called to sign for a parcel.

He said: "I thought it was a bit unusual for me to have to sign for the post but I came out and there was an enormous parcel waiting for me."

His family, wife Geraldine and sons Jonathon, 27, and Simon, 24, were waiting by the package, which was a gift-wrapped fridge freezer box.

Dean Arnstrong added: "I knew there was something in the parcel but I just thought it was a large watering can, which is what I asked for.

"When my daughter jumped out it was such a lovely surprise. I was shocked. My whole family had kept it a secret."

Sarah married her French husband Fred in the summer and the Dean had not seen his eldest child since the couple both moved to the Malaysian capital shortly after the wedding.

Dean Armstrong said: "I speak to her all of the time and email as well but it was a wonderful surprise to see her on my birthday."

Sarah spent Christmas in East Lancashire before returning to Malaysia before the New Year.