Skipton mum Elaine Farrier was left speechless after two strangers travelled halfway round the world to meet her.

Elaine, a member of the town's Baptist Church, was featured on a BBC Songs of Praise programme, filmed in Skipton about three years ago.

She told viewers how her faith had helped her after a routine scan, during pregnancy, had revealed she had bladder cancer.

The programme was recently shown in Australia, and touched a chord with Ian and Cherri Browne, who live in O'Connell, New South Wales.

They were already planning a trip to Europe and decided to include Skipton on their itinerary.

And, so last week, they turned up unannounced at Skipton Baptist Church in the hope of meeting Elaine.

"I was sitting in the pew, and one of the deacons touched me on the shoulder, and said that there was a couple who had come all the way from Australia to meet me," said Elaine.

"I was absolutely speechless. I had only just returned from a trip to Aberdeen, and it was touch and go whether I would be at the service."

She invited the Ian and Cherri back to her home to meet her husband, Derek, and daughter, Nicole, who will be four in July.

"They told me that they were planning to visit London any way, and that I had inspired a lot of people. I was just amazed - it was a humbling experience," said Elaine.

Now the two families have promised to keep in touch via letter and e-mail, and the Brownes have also invited Elaine, Derek and Nicole to visit them in Australia.