EMOTIONS flowed as three brothers were reunited for the first time in more than half a century in Durham at the weekend.

They were fighting back the tears on Platform Two at Durham Railway Station once Mike Dowling cast eyes on long-lost brothers Ralph and Ted as they got off a train from Hampshire.

There were hugs all round as the brothers, first separated in blitz-torn Southampton during the Second World War, came together for the first time since 1947.

Mike and older brother Ralph were brought up in an orphanage in Southampton, during the war, which including a period evacuated in Bournemouth, while Ted was looked after at home by his mother.

But following the war Mike went his own way after completing a six-year shipyard apprenticeship at the Thorneycroft yard in Southampton. He went on to see almost a decade Army service round the world with the Royal Hampshire Regiment, and after five years living in Farnborough, Hampshire, after his marriage to Rita, in 1968, the couple emigrated to South Africa in 1973.

Mike worked in heavy engineering during 22 years' exile, living in Johannesburg, but on their return, he and Rita came to live in the Durham area to be near to their daughter Jackie and her five children.

Now 63, and living with Rita in Prince Charles Avenue, Bowburn, Mike had given up hope of ever seeing brothers Ralph and Ted, or elder sisters Vicki and Lilian.

Out of the blue, brother-in-law Tony Selby contacted them from Farnborough earlier this year, as Mike's son, Michael, had traced his brothers. It led to the reunion as Ralph, 64, 59-year-old Ted and his wife Valerie, travelled north for a weekend stay with Mike and Rita in Bowburn.

Fighting back the tears, Mike said: "I never thought this would happen. It's marvellous. We just lost touch after all the time being in Africa, but we've got a lot to discuss and catch up on."

The brothers made up for lost time over a few pints at Mike's new local, the Oak Tree in Bowburn, enjoyed a big family barbecue and spent time visiting some of the historic sites in Durham.

Mike has pledged to keep up contact and to visit Southampton again, while he also hopes to meet up again with his sisters.