A FAMILY who have been trying to trace relatives in Canada got the shock of their lives when they read the Journal .

Mike Tyldesley, a Canadian who is a direct ancestor of Sir Thomas Tyldesley, featured in the April 10 edition.

The story of how Mike's great-grandfather Thomas had emigrated from Tyldesley to start a new life in the Canadian Rockies in 1905 was revealed. And also how as a 10-year-old boy Mike returned to his roots on a European holiday in 1976 to Tyldesley.

And when John Woods picked up the Journal and read about the Tyldesleys of Canada he suddenly realised they were his relations -- the ones he had been searching for all his life.

Mr Woods, who used to live in Tyldesley but now lives in Glazebury, said: "I knew I had some relatives in Canada but I was never sure where they were.

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"Then I read the story on Mike Tyldesley and it referred to my uncle Thomas Tyldesley, who was my mother's brother, and Mike's great-grandfather.

"I couldn't believe it, I realised these were my long lost relatives!"

Now 76 year-old John, and his wife Joyce, plan to get in touch with Mike Tyldesley and his family to try and make up for lost time.

"I'm very intrigued to find out more about my Canadian family, and plan to give him a surprise phone call. It would be great if we could go over to Canada and meet Mike and his family some day."

Mike has since contacted the Journal and said he has spoken to the Wood's family.

He said: "I was out on my dad's boat in the Burrard inlet, near Vancouver harbour when I got a call from the Wood's family. It was great -- we had a good conversation."