SEVEN cousins who live thousands of miles apart and have never met were united in a Rossendale restaurant.

They are all descended from Ramsbottom couple John Arthur and Mary Hague who had six children at the turn of the 20th century.

Cilla Black would not have looked out of place when the cousins met up at the Rose 'n' Bowl in Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, for lunch and to catch up on old times and talk of new.

The idea for the meeting came because Joyce Pickup, 66, from Mornington, Victoria, Australia, is currently visiting the UK.

She is staying with one of the seven cousins, Elaine Pease, 54, of Croft Street, Earby, and decided it would be a nice idea to get the family together.

Joining Joyce and Elaine were brother and sister Ronald Hodges, 58, of Church Street, Harle Syke, Burnley, and Doris Heap, 62, of Sandiway Drive, Harle Syke.

Tom Hague, in his 70s, from Danesmoor Nursing Home, Helmshore Road, Haslingden; Colin Smith, 70, from Settle, and Gary Horsman, 42, from New Zealand, also currently in the UK, were the other three cousins at the reunion. Joyce said: "I had never met Colin but had met the other cousins at some stage in my life.

"I have lived in Australia since 1966 and when I last came to England, nine years' ago, I met up with Doris and Ronald.

"Elaine came to Australia six years ago in October and met some of my cousins out there so I thought it would be nice for the UK side of the family to get-together.

"I see Gary because he has come over from New Zealand to Australia about three times but has never met the rest of the cousins."

All the family were delighted to meet up for the first time, describing the Rose 'n' Bowl family party as 'fabulous'.