SIX friends have taken a terrific trip to yesteryear after digging up a time capsule they buried in Helsby Hill 22 years ago.

The group of six former Helsby High School pupils – Sian McGreary, Emma Page, Katy Wynne, Gemma Albiston, Gemma Roughsedge and Gemma Lynch – returned to the spot where they had buried the time capsule on Wednesday, February 13, 1997.

The original idea for the time capsule had come from Emma, who had seen a time capsule burying programme on TV back in the day.

Emma was also on hand to help round up the group again, contacting friends on Facebook as half had lost touch.

Fortunately, none of the group had to travel too far, as they arrived from Chester, Kelsall, Helsby, Formby and Dutton.

Gemma Lynch explained: "Armed with shovels, a metal detector and a great memory, we found the exact spot and dug it up!

"Inside everything was in immaculate condition, including diaries describing our life as 15-year-olds including which boys we fancied and old photographs.

"We each had secret individual letters to open which were sealed 22 years ago and included predictions about our future jobs and descriptions of our future husbands – many of which were correct!"

One of the correct predictions made in 1997 were that Gemma Lynch would become primary school teacher.

Gemma said this was correct, but added: "However, I left teaching in 2016 to become an inspector of childcare settings eg nurseries, playgroups and childminders."

Other correct predictions were that Emma would become a primary school teacher, that Sian would work in business in an office with a briefcase, and that Gemma Albiston would work with animals, which turned out to be true as she runs her own dog grooming business.

Gemma Lynch added: "Digging it up [the time capsule] was a day to remember filled with emotion, love and laughter!"