WIDNES'S most famous Italians are celebrating this week after their team scooped football's biggest prize.

Tony Meloni and his brother Franco, of Tony's Wine Bar in Albert Road, were partying into the early hours of Monday morning after watching his fellow countrymen lift the World Cup.

The brothers and their family were glued to the TV in his Sambuca restaurant after watching his beloved Italy overcome France on penalties in the World Cup Final.

Tony said: 'We were up all night celebrating after the win. And to be honest we have been celebrating since we beat Germany in the semi-final. But the final was really special and I think we will be in party mode for another few weeks.'

Tony and his brother have been in business in Widnes since 1975 after moving from Sardinia to the town to open up 'Tony's and Franco's.

The pair have been running the business at the same premises ever since and above the bar Tony has a picture of himself with the World Cup in 1990 which is his pride and joy.

Tony said: 'During Italia '90 we were on a flight from Rome to Milan and on board the plane was the World Cup.

'I could not believe it that all these famous footballers and delegates were there with the most famous cup on earth.

'Fortunately for me I managed to get a picture holding it and I reckon I am the only man in Widnes to ever get his hands on the World Cup.'

Memories flooded back to the adopted Widnesian last Sunday and while Italians across the globe were cheering on the Azzuri in Berlin, Tony and his army of followers were doing the same in Widnes.

He added: 'I was always confident that we would win as we are Italians after all. We know how to celebrate and we finished off our World Cup theme in style.

'Italy bringing home the cup was the icing on the cake.'