A ROSSENDALE family who were told to flee from their Kuwait home because of the threat of war today spoke of their relief to be back in Lancashire with their family.

Sean and Sharon McShea, along with their children Caitlin, two, and Ciaran, one, were met at Manchester Airport on Tuesday by Sean's father, Councillor Michael McShea.

They had been living in Kuwait since 1996, when they moved from their house in Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, to start a new life as teachers in a primary school.

Sean, 35, said it was a relief to be free of the stress and tensions of Kuwait but they were still very concerned for friends still in the country.

He said: "A lot of the stress and tension has gone and it is great to be able to walk around Lancashire and not be worried if a car slows down next to you.

"It became more worrying after a British man was shot dead in Saudi Arabia and stories in the two English newspapers over there claimed that Saudi dissidents were crossing the border into Kuwait and planning terrorists activities against British people."

Mr McShea said: "When you live abroad some of your work colleagues become very close, like your family.

"Some of our friends are married to Kuwait men and have children with them.

"I understand that people don't want the war because innocent people will be killed, but when we were there, innocent people not far from us were already being killed."