ALMOST 70 years after he was evacuated to Ross-on-Wye, a Birmingham man has made a return visit to his war-time home.

John Ferriday, from Great Barr, had made three attempts to find the home where he was billeted at the age of nine but could only remember sketchy details.

He knew the family's name was Farmer, the house was in a row of cottages and that it was not far from a church.

Despite trawling the streets in their car, Mr Ferriday and his wife and son could not find the cottage.

In a last ditch attempt, the family visited the Ross-on-Wye Tourist Information Centre where a member of staff put them in touch with Rossonian Joan Crisp.

She met them at the Royal Hotel where they were staying and worked out a possible location of the cottage.

On arrival, Mr Ferriday was able to confirm it was the house where he was billeted for one year in 1939.

Mrs Crisp said: "It was very emotional. The family were very keen to find the house.

"I was born in Ross and know it very well. When John told me the family's name was Farmer, I knew of two places where families of that name had lived."

Luckily the present owner was in and gave Mr Ferriday and his wife a tour of the cottage and garden.