Childhood pals who spent 20 years unaware they were living in the same village marked their renewed friendship by organising a school reunion.

Leslie Rolfe, formerly Anderson, left Consett for Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where she met classmate Pat Kershaw, who she knew as Pat Johnson, following a chance encounter.

Mrs Rolfe said: "My daughter happened to mention to Pat that we came from Consett.

"One thing led to another and we met, having lived in the same area for more than 20 years."

The pair, who returned to north Durham for a long weekend earlier this year to revisit childhood haunts, decided to take to their experience to its natural conclusion and organise a school reunion.

With the help of mutual friend Wendy Atkinson, they organised a reunion for pupils who were the first intake into Consett Grammar School, in 1957. About 60 people, including five former teachers, attended the event at the Raven Hotel, in Ebchester.

Mrs Rolfe said: "It was an absolutely wonderful event. Nobody was eating anything, they were so busy chatting until the early hours of the morning.

"Everyone had gone on to do a range of jobs, but status in life was not an issue at all."

Mrs Rolfe said everyone wore badges to identify themselves.

She said: "A lot of people would not have recognised each other initially.

"But when they saw the other person's eyes and heard their voice it brought memories flooding back."

The pair are considering organising a repeat event.