A ROSSENDALE councillor was waiting to welcome his family today as they headed back home from Kuwait.

Michael McShea said he had spoken to his son Sean and his pregnant wife Sharon and was hoping to meet them from the plane at Manchester Airport.

The family, including their two children two-year-old Caitlin and Ciaran, one, were told to flee Kuwait by British Embassy officials who said they were in danger because of the growing threat of war.

They were expected to arrive back in the country today.

Coun McShea said he was looking forward to meeting them and bringing them home to Rossendale.

He said: "Last time I spoke to them they had their bags packed and were ready to leave first thing today so its fingers crossed for a safe journey back.

"I'm really looking forward to having them back home as its been a worrying time out there and although I think coming home has been a fairly stressful time for them, it's better to be safe than sorry."

Sean and Sharon, formerly of Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, started their Arabian adventure in 1996 when they moved to Kuwait to become teachers in a local primary school.

They lived 50 miles from Iraq but are preparing to return to their Newchurch Road home.

The couple were originally warned to pack their bags and prepare to leave Kuwait last September after a dossier of evidence against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein increased tension in the Middle East.

Sean and Sharon are among 4,500 British Nationals who are expected to flee Kuwait as the threat of war looms.