HISTORY came full circle yesterday with a reunion of the descendants of a North-East family which played a key role in the founding of the US.

More than 50 distant cousins of the Hilton family, from the US and Canada, returned to their roots at Hylton Castle, on Wearside.

The gathering, joined by 15 British Hiltons, was made that much more special with their attendance at Independence Day celebrations, at the ancestral home of George Washington, at Washington Old Hall.

Yesterday's reunion was made possible by a combination of Internet connections - and a find in an old family Bible.

The event was arranged by Eric Lamberton, of Washington, whose family had married into the Hilton family in the 1500s.

William Hilton, of Biddick, near Monkwearmouth was aboard the ship, The Fortune, which sailed for the Americas in 1621, the year after Mayflower had sailed.

Michael Pokalski of Cedar Rapid, Iowa, said his grandmother had given him a family Bible which traced the family back 34 generations.

It showed that William Hilton was the son of Roger Hilton, who was the fourth son of Sir William Hylton of Hylton Castle.

The Hilton family has traced its origins back even further, to the Vikings in the 9th Century - and discovered the Norwegian branch of the family founded the worldwide Hilton hotel chain.

Brimming with tears after the Independence Day celebrations in Washington village yesterday, Mr Pokalski said: "This is just wonderful - being able to return to my roots.

"And being able to celebrate Independence Day at the ancestral home of George Washington makes it all the more special."

Keith Hilton of Detroit, Michigan said: "The significance of what these North-East people did in terms of world history is phenomenal."