A CHANCE meeting in a car park between two old schoolfriends has led to plans for a reunion.

Members of the 1959/60 year of Chester-le-Street Modern School will meet at the Chester-le-Street Cricket Club, in the town's Ropery Lane, on May 21.

Anne Blenkiron, 60, of Chester-le-Street, said: "It all started when I bumped into Joyce Clarke in a car park.

"We had not seen each other since school but recognised each other immediately. It was incredible.

"I had been keeping in touch with Ellen Newland, from Chester-le-Street, and Joyce had been keeping contact with Margaret Richardson, of Nottingham.

"They in turn knew Elaine Stephenson and Audrey Patterson and last year the six of us got together.

Now the women have decided to hold a grand reunion and want to find other classmates to join the celebration.

Mrs Blenkiron (nee Watson) said they had managed to trace some other former pupils but were having problems with those who had got married.

The timing of the reunion has been arranged to accommodate one pupil - Jean Mowbray who will flying back from Australia for a holiday.

Mrs Blenkiron said: "If everyone turns up we should have more than 30 people there."

Mrs Blenkiron can be contacted at 0191-388 4341.