More than 50 members of the Gingell family gathered at Calne Town Hall on Sunday for a long-awaited family reunion.

The Gingell's, who originate from Stockley near Calne, pawed over old pictures and family trees in a bid to find the missing links.

Organiser Mary Whitehead, the daughter of Florence Gingell, said: "It was amazing.

Florence was born in Stockley in 1906 before moving to Kew Lane as a youngster and then Patford Street, Calne.

Mrs Whitehead, who lives in Redruth, Cornwall, said: "We all have those little gaps in our family trees where we know relatives have had children and grandchildren but we just don't know who they are.

"It was fascinating to meet all the people we only know by name."

Mrs Whitehead, 66, now plans to organise another reunion in three years time.

This will be the third for the great-grandmother who says she wants to make the get-togethers a regular event.

She said: "It's interesting to know where you came from and who the other people in your family are.

"It was quite fun looking around the room and picking out the true Gingells, the ones with the family characteristics."

Rs Whitehead's third cousin Robert Gingell of Monkton Park, Chippenham, is already planning for the Gingell Reunion 2010.

"He said: "It was very interesting and we had help tracing back where we came from and how me managed to be where we are now.

"Mary's great, great grandfather was my great, great grandfathers brother so I think that makes us cousins.

"There were a lot of unfamiliar faces but they are people we will be looking out for next time round."

The 68-year-old took along wife Rosalae and daughter Carolyn and says he hopes to one day take his grandchildren.

He said: "With this many Gingells there are bound to be additions to the family every year.

"It would be nice for the family to go together so the younger ones can learn a bit about there ancestors."

The Gingell family are trying to trace all the known surviving members of the Gingell family via their website www.gingell.com.

So far, they have managed to account for just over 40% of Gingells living in the United Kingdom on the family tree but are now asking for anyone who is a Gingell or who is descended from one to add their name to the list.

Anyone whose name is spelt Gingell, Gyngell, Gingle or Gangell is invited to sign up.

For more information about the Gingell family visit www.gingell.com.