Tears of joy at Newcastle Airport as families are reunited for Christmas

THERE were tears of joy, hugs and even koalas and flags at Newcastle Airport as families welcomed their loved ones to the North East for Christmas.

- DANIEL HALL

> Brianna Killaby, Patricia Goldman, Guy Killaby and Kiy Killaby

While some were seeing long-travelling Geordies home, others were bringing members of their families from afar to celebrate their first festive seasons in Newcastle.

Helen Melrose, from Jarrow, hadn't seen her son Nathan for two years. She waited for more than 40 minutes with her partner; and Nathan's brother Dylan and his partner Ellie Davidson with Australian flags saying "welcome home Nathan!" and a plushie koala.

A tearful Helen said: "He went backpacking for six weeks and he never came home. He's a tree surgeon in Perth and he's hoping to stay there on a working visa."

Nathan himself said he was happy to be back, and excited to pack in trips to Poland and Edinburgh, as well as seeing his grandparents, over the next three weeks.