Penpals meet after 53 years

Two penpal friends have met for the first time after writing to each other for 53 years.

Eirwen Heath and Susan Rowlands have stayed in contact without ever coming face-to-face, despite only living 260 miles apart.

However, they finally rectified this last month after heading to the North Wales seaside resort of Llandudno, which is halfway between their homes.

The pair started writing to each other when they were 12 and used to stay in regular contact, but this dropped to Christmas and birthdays as they married and had kids.

Ms Heath told the South Wales Evening Post that since they have become grandparents the volume of correspondence, which is still by pen and paper, has "increased enormously".

"The closeness and feelings between the two of us has never been stronger," she added.

Their story highlights how it is possible for penpals to stay in touch for a long period of time.

Posted by Samantha Thompson