WHEN the Richmond family launched a balloon with their address on it at a family wedding in York, they thought it might get as far as Scunthorpe.

Instead, it was discovered, and sent back to them, by a young girl living nearly 1,000 miles away, in Austria.

The balloon turned up in the Austrian town of Turnitz, eight months after Julie Richmond jokingly attached her name and address to it at her brother's wedding in York last August.

The balloon was found by 13-year-old Katherina Wagner, who sent a map of Austria, detailing exactly where it had been discovered.

She also enclosed the original piece of paper that Julie had tied to the balloon.

Julie said the reply was especially surprising as she had forgotten all about the balloon.

She said: "It was unbelievable, especially as it was an ordinary balloon, rather than one made from tin foil."

She now hopes that her 12-year-old daughter, Hayley, who was a bridesmaid at the wedding, and her brother's step-son Charlie Darley, nine, who was the best man, will become penpals with Katherina.

Hayley said: "I was really pleased, and I'm hoping to put some of the German I learned at school into the reply."

Updated: 11:32 Tuesday, April 30, 2002