AN EAST Lancashire family today spoke of their emotional Christmas reunion almost 30 years after they last saw one another and said: "This is the best Christmas present we could have wished for."

The group of four brothers and sisters, who all grew up in Burnley, were separated after the youngest, Keith Riley, left Lancashire behind in 1975 for a new life in South Africa.

Keith has not seen his brother and two sisters since he left, but he returned with his wife, Joyce, for a tearful reunion after his daughter Leza, 21, who lives in London with her brother Lee, 26, arranged the get-together.

The family's story will be told to the nation tomorrow when a UKTV show, fronted by Carole Smillie, called 'UKTV At Home for Christmas' will be broadcast.

Keith, 52, and Joyce, 58, flew into Heathrow airport on Monday where they were greeted by sister Barbara Atkinson and her husband Neville.

His other sister Joyce Gibson, 62, and his brother Harry Riley, 61, were waiting back in Burnley for their long-lost sibling to arrive. Barbara, 64, said: "I was 12 when Keith was born and I more or less looked after him when he was a child. I even used to curl his hair, like sisters do.

"I think we will take him round the old areas where we used to live then he can see how things have changed."