A WAR bride who emigrated to Canada more than half a century ago has been reunited with her family in York.

Dot Ford, who celebrated her 91st birthday on Tuesday, grew up in York and met her husband, Flying Officer Lawrence Ford, during World War Two after which they moved to start a new life in Canada.

Dot who was welcomed back to her home city this week said: "We met in December 1944 at the Elephant & Castle in Skeldergate. Where else? You either met your husband in the pub or on the dance floor back then. We were married in 1945 at St Cuthbert's. It was quite an experience when we moved to the prairies of Saskatchewan."

The couple farmed when they first moved to Canada, and came back to the UK to stay with Dot's cousin, before Lawrence died in 2005. The last time Dot came back was in 2007, and she said she was amazed at how things had changed, even since then.

Dot travelled with her daughters and granddaughter, and has been staying with her cousin Anne Thistleton in Acomb, but also visiting her other cousins in Selby and Bridlington.

Anne said: "It's been wonderful seeing her again.

"The day they flew out, Saskatchewan had another six inches of snow again, so Dot, Maureen, Sharon, Gail and Maria have had such lovely weather here. We've tried to get all the family to see her and I've said I'll come over to Canada for her hundredth!"