'I couldn't stop crying': Tears of joy from Syrians in Penrith after fall of Assad regime

Walaa Asfar, who hasn't seen her family since leaving Syria, has opened her home to anyone wishing to celebrate with traditional Syrian sweets. Credit: ITV Border

Syrians have gathered with neighbours in Cumbria to celebrate the end of the regime they fled in fear for their lives.

Walaa Asfar arrived in Penrith, Cumbria over a decade ago following the outbreak of a bloody civil war in her hometown.

Today Ms Asfar, who hasn't seen her family since leaving Syria, has opened her home to anyone wishing to celebrate the fall of Bashar Al-Assad's regime.

Ms Asfar hopes she'll be able to see members of her family she hasn't met for over a decade. Credit: ITV Border

The Syrian government fell over the weekend after a lightning offensive by anti-regime forces across the country - ending President Bashar al Assad's 24-year rule and 13 years of civil war.

Speaking to ITV Border, Walaa Asfar said: "I woke up in the morning to a voicenote of my sister saying 'Walaa wake up! Wake up! It's a free Syria!'

"When I heard it I couldn't stop crying. I was just running around my home.

"I woke up the kids. I'm crying, I don't know what to do."

Syrians are celebrating as 13 years of civil war ends with government overthrown by rebel fighters. Credit: ITV Border

Over the weekend Ms Asfar joined hundreds of Syrians in Manchester celebrating Assad's demise with singing, dancing and crying in the city centre.

She continued: "I'm celebrating the new free Syria. I'm very happy. I took myself and my kids to Manchester yesterday and when got home I couldn't bare to see my house empty.

"No people, no one having sweets and celebrating.

"So that's when I had the idea to put it on Facebook and invite everyone round to celebrate this happy moment."

Eleven years since she moved to Cumbria, Ms Asfar believes the political shift could lead to her being able to see her family in Syria again.

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