A FAMILY of avid listeners to Radio Saltire have popped into the Tranent studio after travelling nearly 11,000 miles from their Australian home.

Deanna and Patrick Nott, along with children Alexander and Isabella, were on holiday in Scotland last month.

They have regularly listened to the radio station for the last four years, despite living in Gold Coast, Australia.

Deanna said: “We came across Radio Saltire quite by chance back in 2011 and regularly tuned into Andy Morris’ ‘AM Into the PM’ Breakfast Show, which we listened to over dinner because of the time difference.

“It was a great show and we have become avid listeners ever since.” Andy Morris, trustee and presenter, welcomed them to the studio, on Tranent’s Civic Square, and broadcast a one-hour special with them.

He kicked off the show with Rod Stewart’s version of Waltzing Matilda and introduced the family to the listening public.

He said: “We have in the studio today some special guests.

“As you know, I’ve interviewed many people here – some famous and some not so famous – and it has never been a better pleasure to introduce this family to you.

“I used to present the breakfast show when we were known as East Lothian FM and I did that for about a year or so.

“For some peculiar reason, which I’m going to find out more about in a minute, we were listened to in a city called Gold Coast, in Queensland, and I’ve never fathomed out why.

“We got to know each other 10,500 miles apart and were inundated with emails from Deanna asking for this track or another and we were always happy to oblige.

“What they said was if they ever got across to Britain we would meet up and here they are.”