FIVE long-lost friends who served in the Army together in Hong Kong during the 1960s met up for the first time in 40 years.

Bert Prince, aged 64, managed to trace four of his old friends through an internet website earlier this year.

The old pals visited him at his home at Aspinall Court, Horwich, at the weekend.

Brian Farrelly, aged 61, travelled from the Isle of Wight, Ron Potter, aged 71, came from Batley in Yorkshire, Alan Concannon, aged 64, from Shropshire, and Bill Chamberlain, aged 61, made the journey from Preston.

The friends spent three years, between 1961-64, serving in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Hong Kong and have not seen each other since they returned home and went their separate ways 40 years ago.

At Christmas, Bert, who is now housebound, succumbed to his family's suggestions that he buy a computer. He learned how to use the internet and in January came across the forces reunited website.

Now retired Bert was born in Horwich and settled back there recently to be close to his three children and four grandchildren.

After leaving Hong Kong he made the Army his career, before undertaking several different jobs across the country.

He said: "When my family first suggested getting on the internet, I was a little bit hesitant, but once I found the military sites there was no going back!

"I found Bill first and we were emailing each other and sending photographs, then we found the others together.

"We decided to meet up so we can exchange old tales and catch up on the last 40 years.

"There was a lot of reminiscing."