Hurricance Katrina survivor Catherine Nichols has flown back to the UK for an emotional reunion with her Oxfordshire sisters.

Catherine Nicholls, left, and her sister Alison SmithSpeaking from her sister Alison Smith's Charlbury home yesterday, she told the Oxford Mail: "It's great to be back.

"I desperately needed to take my mind off what happened and this seemed like the ideal place to relax."

Mrs Smith, 46, of Ticknell Piece Road, added: "It all happened so quickly. The next thing I knew I was meeting Catherine and her daughter at Gatwick airport and giving them both a massive hug."

Mrs Smith at first feared her sister and her family had died in Biloxi, Mississippi, when the hurricane hit because Mrs Nichols was unable to get in touch until a week after the storm.

Mrs Nichols, 52, her husband Richard and children Amanda, 24, and Melissa, 22, fled their home in Biloxi when news came through that they were facing a category four hurricane with winds of 145mph.

The former pupil of Gosford Hill School in Kidlington told last week how the family's wooden bungalow on the Gulf coast was damaged by the storm but left standing, unlike other homes close to the shoreline.

On Sunday she flew into Gatwick with Amanda, while Richard and Melissa remained in the United States.

She said: "I needed a few weeks to rest and recuperate -- what happened left me in a state of shock.

"Richard is staying behind because he has a job at the supermarket Walmart. He is trying to rebuild our home but we still don't have any running water.

"In our area, there were about 100 houses and only 16 remain -- we're so lucky to have a house."

On Sunday night Mrs Nichols and Amanda enjoyed a reunion dinner with Mrs Smith at her home.

Their sister Helen Wiffen, 50, from New Street, Bicester, also joined them for the meal and Champagne.

Mrs Nichols, originally from Bicester, said: "When I got off the plane I gave Alison a great big hug and then Helen came over for dinner -- it was just like old times.

"I don't know exactly how long I will stay -- maybe a few weeks -- but I will have to go back at some point because that is where my home is."

Mrs Smith said: "Obviously I would love it if Catherine's family moved back to the UK, but I know that is not possible at the moment. As soon as they are more settled I will fly out there for a holiday."

Mrs Smith, a health visitor, said she had liaised with the Foreign Office, and officials had helped to arrange her sister's flight.

Mrs Wiffen added: "It's very nice to have Catherine over here again. I gather she has an open ticket so she might stay for a while."

Mrs Nichols met her husband 25 years ago when he was stationed at Upper Heyford. They emigrated soon afterwards and have lived in Biloxi for nine years.

Mrs Nichols said she was hopeful Biloxi could be completely rebuilt.