A FORMER Darwen fireman has been reunited with his family more than 35 years after emigrating to the other side of the world.

James Almond, 59, made the 25-hour flight from Australia, to be guest of honour at his 61-year-old brother Keith's wedding.

Keith, who is a Darwen firefighter, wed his bride, Mary Pratt, 54, at the Kiosk in Sunnyhurst Woods, Darwen, before setting off on a Mediterranean cruise.

The brothers are just two out of three sets of twins in the same family, along with two other siblings who all met for the emotional reunion on Saturday.

Another sister, Marion, who also lives in Australia, could not attend the event and late sister, Jean, died when she was just 18 months old.

It was the first time that all three sets of twins, Keith and Brian, 61, James and Alan, 59, and Frank and Doreen, 54, have been together since James left his homeland in 1966. - and have the picture to prove it.

James, who spent most of his younger years growing up in Richmond Terrace, Darwen, was a former pupil at St James' and Sudell Road Primary schools.

He said leaving his family behind was the hardest thing he had ever had to do but had no regrets after setting up family in New South Wales - with four sons and nine grandchildren of his own. He added: "It took a lot of getting used to and I had a lot of homesickness. I went through a lot of pain. It's hard work leaving your family behind.

"I miss them all the time and try to get over here as often as possible to see them.

"It was difficult in those days to keep in contact because my family couldn't afford a telephone for me to speak to them on.

"There's a lot that's changed in Darwen since I left but a lot that's stayed exactly the same as well.

"Richmond Terrace is exactly the same apart from the houses across the road which used to be allotments.

"We are all really excited about the wedding and it's absolutely beautiful to be over here with everyone.

"Keith is the oldest member of the family and has been a beacon to everyone as we've grown up. He set the way for us with his morals and showed us how to live our lives."