Christmas 2000 was a very special one for Bradford mum Kay Carroll.

After years of waiting, the 55-year-old from Greengates was at last able to celebrate the day with her long-lost daughter Laura Di Giovanni (far left).

Now 36, she was adopted at five days old while Kay was working as a nanny in America. But after some determined detective work from Laura, she was finally reunited with her mother and younger sister, Justine, in September 1999.

Now the family have spent Christmas Day together for the first time.

"It has been wonderful," said Kay. "We have had a lovely Christmas with the whole family. I always wondered what Laura was doing, especially on her birthdays and at Christmas. Now she is here with us."

Since their first reunion the pair have clocked up thousands of air miles between them, travelling between Bradford and New York to see each other. But this was a particularly special visit for Laura, who came over with husband Robert.

"It has been brilliant," she said. "It's been my first Christmas out of America so it was different. Boxing Day was a whole new experience. I got to see the whole extended family.''