AN Australian couple travelled more than 10,000 miles (16,093 km) to have their baby christened in a Worcestershire village.

Two years ago Sophie and Daniel Buffey flew all the way from Oz to tie the knot at St John Baptist Church in Claines, near Worcester, where Mrs Buffey grew up.

Last week the couple returned to Christen their first child, eight-and-a-half month old Aston James, in the same church as they were married.

“It was so special to be allowed to get married in Claines,” said 30-year-old Mrs Buffey. “To be allowed back for Aston was even more special.

“All the family were over here and it’s the first grandchild, the first great-grandchild “It was important to us that everyone got to see him and he got to meet all the family.”

Mrs Buffey, who works for the Salvation Army, has fond memories of the area. She attended Claines Primary School and her parents were married at St John’s. “We’re going to come back as often as we can,” she said.

“And family will always come and visit us.”

The couple moved to Mooroolbark, Victoria – where the population is more than 19,000 and the weather tends to be a little warmer than in Britain – in 2003.

New father Mr Buffey, aged 35, is a self-employed kitchen and bathroom renovator and the couple had to obtain a special licence to marry his sweetheart in Worcestershire. They are spending a month in the UK before heading home.