CHILDHOOD pals June Evans and Carol Woodcock were born at the same hospital in the same month.

But fate separated them when they went to different high schools and moved away from Accrington.

And, after getting married, the friends didn't see each other for an incredible 35 years.

But thanks to the magic of the Internet, the women were emotionally reunited at Christmas - hundreds of miles away in Tenerife.

June and Carol, both aged 54, said they were delighted to meet again after spending a third of a century apart.

"I did feel really nervous before we met up and Carol told me she felt just the same. It was strange that after our first hug the years just fell away," said June.

June, whose maiden name was Martin, and Carol, whose maiden name was Parkinson, were both born at Queen's Park Hospital in May 1951.

June added: "I lived in Holland Street while Carol lived in Percival Street and we both attended St Andrew's School in Swiss Street.

"Our parents were friends and used to go out together before they married."

But Carol went on to study at Accrington High School, while June attended Rhyddings.

Both women left Accrington in 1970 - Carol moved to the Isles of Scilly after marrying Derek, while June moved to Cornwall with her husband Andrew who died in 1982.

And though they exchanged the odd letter over the years, they barely had time to stay in touch.

June said: "Then in 2001 I noticed Carol was registered with the Friends Reunited website and I e-mailed her, but I didn't get a reply until about a month ago.

"It was really exciting when I received the e-mail from Carol telling me that she was spending Christmas and New Year in a hotel a few miles away from my apartment."

She added: "We spent a couple of hours in the bar at her hotel with her husband and parents, Tom and Joyce Parkinson, just catching up.

"Carol's mother brought some photos of my parents, which I'd never seen. That was a little emotion as both my parents died years ago."

On the future, June said: "There is no doubt that we will keep in touch from now on.

"Carol plans to visit Tenerife again and maybe I'll manage to get over to the Scillies when I next go back to England.

"Carol tells me that it is a lovely place to live and she has been happy there."