HAWAIIAN heartache has turned to Padiham paradise for a newly-wed couple who married after an internet romance that spanned the globe.

Stewart Hindle and bride Tina Evans are settling down to life in East Lancashire with Tina's three-year-old son, Nicholas, after a forced separation.

The couple married in the Pacific paradise in March, but Tina was initially barred from moving to the UK by Home Office regulations. She was even been barred from visiting the UK because of the potential for abusing the system.

Tina, 35, an American secretary from the Tampa Bay area of Florida, was forced to wait until officials processed her application for the right of abode in the UK. Prior to her journey to the United Kingdom, Tina lived and worked in Hawaii.

Because Tina was applying for the right of abode in the UK, the Home Office told the couple the application had to be sent from Hawaii.

The couple met in an internet chat room and it wasn't long before Stewart, an engineer who works at Chadfort Engineering, Blackburn, and also runs his owns computer company from his home in Padiham, was on a plane to Hawaii. Speaking at her new home in Palmerston Street, Padiham, Tina said today: "It's wonderful to be here. Everything is fine now, it was just a matter of correcting things to get it sorted."

The couple now plan to start a family and Tina is looking forward to discovering more about East Lancashire.

"I've been out to see Burnley and Padiham. It's a lovely place and the weather has been lovely as well, although it's obviously different to Florida and Hawaii. It's a change, but a nice change.

"We are glad to be together now and are going to start a family", she added. Tina also said that cyber romances were to be recommended saying, "I would recommend one to anyone!"

Stewart added: "I am very happy we have got over the problems and we are both looking forward to a future together. We can now settle down to a life together."

A Home Office spokesman was unable to comment on individual cases, but stressed its procedures had to be adhered to.