TWO school friends who lost touch after the Second World War had an emotional reunion on Saturday.

Almost 60 years since they last saw each other, Nancy Watson welcomed childhood friend Joan Davison into her Darlington home for lunch.

And from the moment they met, they reminisced about bygone years and of a youth together that was special to them both.

Nancy, 84, of Parkside, said: "Our mothers were friends and so we were brought up together and were best friends.

"We did everything together. As children we would go on walks through the fields and play games, and when we were older, we worked in the same place."

As youngsters, the pair lived in the market town of Lutterworth, in Leicestershire, and as young adults, worked in the town's council offices.

In the early 1940s, they both volunteered for the Royal Air Force and their careers diverged. Nancy became a clerk and Joan started work as a nurse.

Nancy married Bill Watson, an airman from Shildon, County Durham, and moved to the North-East in 1948.

Joan, who is 83 and lives in Berkshire, married Army major Herbert Davison and spent many years living abroad, including five years in Egypt and seven years in Germany.

Nancy said: "We both took different paths and, unfortunately, we lost touch. Until now I had not seen her for 58 years."

The friendship was rekindled five years ago when Nancy's sister, May Smith, who lives near Lutterworth, managed to get Joan's address.

Because of transport problems, Saturday was the first opportunity the pair had to meet again.

The old friends, who are both widows, speak on the phone every week, but Saturday's reunion allowed them look back at old photographs and letters over coffee.

Joan, who is in a wheelchair following a hip operation, said: "We are doing nothing but reminiscing about old times and looking through photos. We still have an awful lot to catch up on."