WHEN West Devon-based independent furniture retailer Fairway Furniture celebrated its 157th birthday recently, little did they know that their celebrations would make the day of three young boys in Ireland.

As part of the company's birthday celebrations, all Fairway stores throughout Devon and Cornwall were giving away helium filled balloons to children visiting the stores, when a bunch of 12 balloons accidentally escaped from the store in Tavistock.

The following day the company received an email from Patrick Howley in Crossmolina, North Mayo, in north west Ireland, saying his brother-in-law John Kearns had found a bunch of Fairway Furniture balloons caught in some ferns to the west of the town.

John and Patrick gave the balloons to Patrick's twin sons Joseph and Connor, aged three, and their cousin Michael Owens, six, conjuring up all sorts of stories of the type of journey they took to get there. They then set about finding out where they had originated from by locating the company through the website on the balloons.

Patrick Howley said: 'It is remarkable to think they found their way to North Mayo and in such quick time.'

Peter Harding, managing director of Fairway Furniture, said: 'We were absolutely amazed to receive Patrick's email. The balloons had travelled almost 300 miles in just over 24 hours and it is great to know they provided such excitement for the boys. Fairway has sent John, Patrick and the boys a gesture of thanks and hopes they enjoy the rest of the summer.'