THE Journal has been flooded with emails from around the world by people wanting to get in touch with relatives and friends in the Leigh area.

The electronic letter writers have contacted us from all sides of the globe, as far away as New Zealand and Canada.

They have written after reading our get-in-touch feedback form on the Leigh Journal web page -- address www.thisisleigh.co.uk -- which is full of local news and sport.

Dave Lyon, from Auckland in New Zealand: I would be interested to hear from anyone living around Kirkhall Lane, West Leigh. My family lived in that street at no 207 from the late 1800s. My grandfather Thomas Lyon played league for Leigh around 1910-1912 and lived with his parents at the above address. He had a son around that time called James. James is still with us at the age of 87 in New Zealand but his recollection of the area and the people is now a little vague. My grandfather went to war and served with the Lancashire Fusiliers. After the war he returned to the area to find his wife had deserted them for another, leaving James with his grandparents. He remarried about 1920 to Emily Chamberlain, from Manchester. They had three children -- Matthew, my father, Lillian (Devlin) born in Manchester, and Ethel (Pierce) born in New Zealand. All of them are still alive. My grandmother made it to the grand age of 94 and Thomas 82 which is not bad for a coal mining family. Any connections or interesting information would be a great help. Email: moamanz@yahoo.co.nz

Les Bracegirdle, from Alberta in Canada: Anyone who knows or remembers me back there in Atherton, get in touch. Missing the old places. Email: rottie@telusplanet.net

Dave Dean, of France Street in Westhoughton: Unlike most contributors, I have not moved out of the area but it would still be nice to hear from any old school friends. I went to Howe Bridge from 1953-59 and good old Hecky Fleck. A few names I remember are the Banks twins, Jimmy Mole, Stewart Grant, Janice Brierly, Janet Knowles, Peter Doohan, Colin Catterall, Linda Knowles, Steve Lyon, Susan Standring, George Hudson. Apologies to any I haven't named but if you were part of the old gang, how about getting in touch and we'll see if we can't all get together and even if you don't want to meet up still get in touch. It would nice to hear from you. Email: dave_dean@madasafish.com

Neil Howarth, no address: I left Atherton in 1988 and I was wondering if anyone in the area remembers me and wants to get in touch. Email: nhowarth@cytanet.com.cy

Eddie Worthington, from Croxdale in County Durham: I have researched my family history for the last 10 years, and have traced my line to the Worthingtons of Standish. My great grandfather William Worthington was born 1855 and had four brothers and three sisters. I have traced two brothers to the Leigh and Atherton areas, and hope to find any living descendants from them. They are: Moses Worthington born 1844 Shevington, Lancashire, died June 1921 at 11 Aspull Road, Leigh in the presence of his son-in-law, MJ Barington aged 77 years; Abraham Worthington born 1850 Orrell, Lancashire, died February 1922 at 702 Leigh Road, Atherton in the presence of his widow MJ Worthington. He had a hardware shop at 209 Wigan Road, Atherton.

I would dearly like to meet any relations of the above two. Email: ed_worth@lineone.net

Anyone who can help trace folk mentioned in the emails can ring the Leigh Journal office on 01942 670669.