Sylvia Stiles, right, and her daughter Beverly Willis. A GREAT-grandmother from Swindon has been reunited with her long-lost sister in Australia - after surfing the Evening Advertiser website.

After no contact for 13 years, Sylvia Stiles, 68, came across a message on the website This is Wiltshire (www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk) from her sister Pat Pickett in Brisbane.

Now, within two months of seeing the message online, Sylvia, of Park North, has jetted off Down Under for an emotional reunion.

Her daughter Beverly Willis, of Park South, explained: "The two families hadn't seen each other for 16 years, and had not been in contact for 13 years we just lost touch."

Sylvia's sister Pat Pickett and her husband Tony emigrated to Australia 37 years ago with their three children.

Their youngest child, Helen Pickett, was born in Australia and in January Pat decided to post a message on Where Are They Now?, a section on This is Wiltshire dedicated to reuniting friends and family.

Beverly, a teaching assistant at Pinehurst School, said: "We saw the message when we were surfing This is Wiltshire she was wanting to get in contact with us again which was amazing.

"She was looking to get hold of my parents, but they didn't know my father Brian Stiles passed away two years ago."

Sylvia's trip to Australia has been a great success, lasting for more than three weeks.

In Australia, she met up with sister Pat's family, including Trevor, 42, Sandra, 41, Paul, 39, and Helen, 30.

Beverly said: "My mother has had the most fantastic time she met up with all her nieces and nephews and all their children."

On her return Sylvia said: "We haven't been in touch for so many years. I had a fantastic trip and look forward to returning soon.''

Even though Sylvia has rediscovered her family in Australia, she has plenty of family left in Swindon to keep her busy.

With six children, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and another on the way, she is already run off her feet but cannot wait to get back to Australia.

If you have a friend or family member you would like to get in touch with, why not leave a message on Where Are They Now? Go to www. thisiswiltshire.co.uk and click on Noticeboard.

Sylvia's story will be updated in the Evening Advertiser's internet supplement called World Wide Wiltshire later this year.