Members of Dethick's historic founding family, which is now scattered across Europe, came together on Sunday to visit their ancestral roots.

The reunion follows research by Janet Kinrade Dethick, who now lives in Italy and has published a book: A History of the Dethick Family 1200-1918.

The book gives an insight into how the family fought over charters of land, married into influential families, and produced a Mayor of London, MPs, High Sheriffs and statesmen.

Janet and event organiser Arthur Greaves, whose mother was a Dethick, traced relatives through the internet.

Arthur said: "The reunion exceeded all our expectations. We never expected so many people to reply."

Janet added: "I'm the last in a long line of researchers in to the family. I'm a relative of George Dethick, who was a teacher in Wirksworth. After he retired he devoted his life to tracing the family history.

"I have been filling in the gaps that he left out."

Janet's father John Dethick was a singer, who performed with major orchestras in Cathedrals across the country.

Her mother Mollie Dethick, who still lives in Derbyshire, is the oldest member of the family and still teaches piano lessons at 92. Mollie was introduced to the youngest family member, also called Molly.

Simon and Gilly Groom, owners of Manor Farm, opened up the Dethick ancestral home so the family could explore their heritage. They also visited St John's Church.

Janet said: "People were very excited at the thought of going into the house.

"Some of us had been to Dethick before. I went into the house years ago when I was still at school."

Fred Dethick, the oldest surviving member in his branch of the family, added: "I didn't know we had such interesting and wealthy ancestors."

Janet thanked historian Barbara Foster for her help researching the family roots.