A BOLTON family who emigrated in order to bask in glorious sunshine every day have been clearing up - after a hurricane. Richard and Ann Symonds, along with Ann's daughter, her husband and their young children, headed for America's sunshine state because they were fed up with the wind and rain at home. The Symonds sold the lease on their pub, The Victoria Hotel at Walshaw, near Bury, to run their own motel in Florida.

But Hurricane Opal, which devastated large parts of Alabama and Tennessee last week, had a sting in its tail - a tropical storm which hit the Symonds' new home hundreds of miles away.

Speaking from their motel Ann, 49, said she was still busy cleaning up.

"We didn't have any major damage but ended up with debris in the pool and around the motel, including bits of broken palm trees.

"We didn't get the hurricane, but we still had a bad storm and the roads were flooded," she said.

The couple, who met when they were working on Ashburner Street market in Bolton, had to leave behind family and friends, but reckoned it was worth the upheaval.

They had been to Florida on holiday many times and knew "It was basically the weather which drew us to Florida," said Richard, 45.

The couple, who lived in Bolton for many years before moving to the pub, took just a few months to complete the deal.

It meant leaving behind all they knew. Ann's family, the Kelsall clan, were well-known fruit and vegetable stall holders at Ashburner Street. Richard met Ann when he worked on the wholesale side.

Luckily Ann's daughter Debra, her husband Dennis Hill and their tchildren, four-year-old Courtney and Mason, eight-months, agreed to join them. They had previously been managers for the Symonds at The Victoria.

The family's venture was organised by Florida Business Consultants, which has a base in Leicester.

Now they are proud owners of The Savoy Suite, formerly called The Shalimar, a motel on Gulf Boulevard, St Petersburg Beach.

Even the address conjures up the vision of sun, sand and surf. With temperatures currently in the 90s Richard said the decision had not been difficult to make. "It's warm all the time. The climate is wonderful and I don't miss the damp one bit," he said.

The family moved to America in the summer and haven't had time to be homesick.

But Richard will return to England later this month to take part in seminars organised by Florida Business Consultants. The seminars are designed to help other people who are thinking about taking the same business step and Richard was asked to take part and give advice to people thinking about the move.

One of the main differences between life here and in America, says Richard, is the pace of life.

"Surprisingly life is more relaxing in Florida. It's so laid back and I love it," he admitted.

And the family will extend a warm, Bolton welcome to any local people choosing to visit them for holidays.

Anyone interested in a move to the States can go along to a seminar in the Hotel Piccadilly, Manchester on October 19, from 7pm to 10pm. Richard will be there to talk about his own experiences. Also available to give help and advice will be an immigration lawyer, a company lawyer, and property experts. ** Richard and Ann by the motel pool in Florida ** Richard and Ann's motel, now called The Savoy Suite, and, inset, a Florida house destroyed by Hurricane Opal

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