A PRESTON church was the holiday destination for an Australian couple who flew half way round the world to fulfil a family tradition.

For Australian Damian Straede, 36, and his wife Sandra, 37, who was born in Preston, the church of St John Baptist in Broughton, Preston, was the only place in the world to get their three children baptised.

It was the church where former Fulwood High School pupil Sandra was baptised as a child and the place where the couple married in 1993 after meeting in Perth, Australia, more than a decade ago.

So when it came to baptising their children Thomas, four, Laura, two, and Henry, three-and-a-half months, the couple had no worries -- despite the thousands of miles distance.

The couple, who live on the coast in Sydney, South Australia -- just miles from the troubled bush fire area -- combined visiting family and friends with a special baptism at the Garstang Road church for their children on Sunday, January 6, conducted by Reverend Satoru JS Kato. More than 20 relatives and friends from Birmingham to Cumbria attended the event which was a chance for many of them to meet the two youngest children for the first time.

Proud dad Damian, who is a musician in the Australian army, said: "It was something we thought would be nice to do because Sandra was christened at that church and it was where we were married.

"It was also a chance for many of our family and friends to meet our children -- some of them had never seen our two youngest.

"We've been here over for Christmas as well and that has been lovely for the children. There is something special about a Christmas in England."

Sandra added: "It was a lovely day and all the children were very well behaved."

Now the couple plan to enjoy the remainder of their holiday in Preston before heading back Down Under with their children later this month.