THREE sisters reunited after half a century apart thanks to a website are on a mission to complete the reunion of their family.

In 1952, baby Doreen Bougourd, now 52, had her last cuddle from big sister Barbara Cooper, before they were separated and taken into care.

On Wednesday, Doreen, Barbara and third sister Betty Cowan met again in a Newcastle car park.

Doreen, now a mother-of-two and a legal clerk, grew up in Annfield Plain, County Durham, with foster parents Eleanor and Bill Thew, believing herself to be an only child.

Last year, she posted information on a website devoted to helping people discover their family history.

On Sunday, Doreen received her first reply -from the sister who had held her for the last time more than 50 years ago.

Barbara, 62, a retired teacher now living in Perth, Australia, had already found Betty, 60, living in Kelty, Fife.

Now the search is on to find three more sisters and three brothers.

Doreen, of Flint Hill Bank, Dipton, near Stanley, County Durham, said: "Now I have two sisters.

"It is incredible, I have lived all my life not knowing they existed, yet having just met them, it feels as if we have known each other all our lives."

Doreen said: "I tried all sorts of ways to find my relatives, but I had given up hope before I had this e-mail. It is so wonderful, better than winning the Lottery."