A SEARCH for information about the death of an ancestor in a house fire in Stokenchurch has led a Lancashire woman to uncover distant relations still living in the village.

Penny Bronte, 47, from Bury, travelled down to Stokenchurch on Tuesday to meet her relatives after an appeal in the Free Press last week to help her in her quest to put together a comprehensive family tree.

Mrs Bronte had asked for information regarding her great great grandfather James Hunt, who died in a blaze at his Stokenchurch home sometime in the 1950s.

The appeal caught the attention of June Goff, 62, who recognised the man described as her own grandfather.

Mrs Goff, of Littlewood, Stokenchurch, said: "My husband was reading it out and I said, hang on a minute, that's my grandpy Jim."

After getting in contact with Mrs Bronte, the pair met to discuss the fire that Mrs Goff can remember witnessing as a teenager.

She said: "I remember running out to the fire and of course it was a big one. The fire brigade came out and said they couldn't find him, but he had been sleeping downstairs and when they went back that's where he was."

Mr Hunt lived in Rose Cottage beside the cricket club in what was known as The Lane.

He was in his 90s when he died.

Mrs Goff said: "I can picture him in my mind as this lovely old man. That's how he always was to me. I can also remember him being very musical."

Mrs Bronte also met up with other relatives in the village who all added their own memories of Mr Hunt and helped piece together his life.

She said: "I am absolutely delighted. I can't thank everyone enough. I have had such a good response and I have found family I never even knew I had.

"They have given me so much information that can now assist me in tracing other family members."

Mrs Bronte's quest to put together the family tree started 18 months ago and has already seen her find relatives she had not seen for 40 years.