PEN-PALS who lost touch nearly 30 years ago can now begin their transatlantic correspondence once again - thanks to GUARDIAN Midweek readers.

Our story last week told how American letter writer Devena Cook wanted to trace Doreen Massey, who she had exchanged letters with when she was a schoolgirl.

The pair - busy raising their own respective families - unfortunately gradually stopped writing to each other.

Hours after the paper hit the streets, retired shop assistant Doreen contacted the newsdesk to say she was the lost pen-pal.

She was inundated with calls from pals - all eager to tell her she was being urged to come forward.

Explained Doreen, aged 60, who now lives in Hampton Drive, Great Sankey: "I have had loads of telephone calls from people I have not heard from for years."

The two were introduced through an exchange scheme while Doreen was at primary school.

"We were still writing when I got married," added Doreen, who recently celebrated her ruby wedding.

"I still have the wedding present she gave me. But later we just seemed to lose touch."

Now, Doreen plans to drop Devena a line, at her home in Frankfort, Indiana, to get her up-to-date with three decades of memories.

Since their last contact she has become a grandmother of four.

She believes her pen-pal may be approaching her 60th birthday and might have used the occasion as an incentive to rekindle their letter-writing.

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