A BOLTON tug-of-love dad broke down in tears after seeing his son for the first time in two years.

Ian Lomax, aged 42, of Alder Street, Great Lever, could not fight back his emotions after eight-year-old Christopher was handed over so that he could spend seven precious days him.

Christopher was taken from him by his Greek wife Helen, aged 31, when they were on holiday in August two years ago.

She wanted to block Mr Lomax from seeing his son by taking him through the Greek courts.

He only had fleeting moments with him before court appearances.

Christopher now lives with his mother and her family in a village near the port town of Pireaus near Athens.

But earlier this year Mr Lomax won custody and access rights after a bitter legal battle.

Mr Lomax, who has now found love again with fiancee Suzi Burniston, aged 24, had an emotional reunion with Christopher and took him for a week's holiday on the Greek island of Aegina.

He said: "I cried and just held him. He was kissing me and put his arms around me. He told me he still loved me. He couldn't understand why I couldn't live in Greece with him.

"He was brilliant with Suzi. He held her hand on the beach. It was as if we were a family, even if it was for just a few days."

Helen handed over Christopher outside the British Embassy in Athens as a neutral venue.

Mr Lomax and Suzi then took him to Aegina where they could at last enjoy the normal things a family does on holiday.

Mr Lomax said: "We went swimming and to the beach. We went on a trip to Poros. He was laughing and wanted to play all the time. He said he wanted me to come at Christmas -- it was just fabulous. The week went incredibly quickly."

Mr Lomax's access rights mean he can also see his child every first and third Saturday and second and fourth Sunday.

And he says it will allow the little lad to build up relationships not just with him, but also with his extended Bolton family and Suzi, who will become his step-mum when they marry next year.

He thanked all the support given to him after the Bolton Evening News launched an appeal on his behalf for legal costs.