When retired hotelier Barbara Clark went shopping with her elder brother Brian they returned home with far more than they had hoped for.

For while out looking for fresh fish in York city centre they were unexpectedly reunited with their long-lost brother. Barbara, of Geldof Road, Huntington, was walking through Parliament Street with Brian, when they spotted a face in the crowd which seemed strangely familiar.

Brian, 65, who was visiting the city from his home town of Peterborough, suggested that they follow the mysterious figure through the shoppers.

Eventually, Barbara, 64, plucked up the courage to tap the man on the shoulder and came face to face with her brother John Calpin, 62, who she hadn't seen for 21 years.

Barbara, a retired hotel owner, said: "Once he turned round I knew there was no mistake, it was my brother. "It must be a one-in-a-million chance to run into him like this."

Youngest sibling John moved to the USA almost 30 years ago, and now lives in Idaho, where he is the director of soccer coaching at a local college.

Although Barbara had kept in contact by telephone for some time, the family lost touch more than 20 years ago when she changed hotel businesses at short notice and John moved from California to Idaho.

The chance meeting is even more uncanny because Barbara had been searching for John on the internet last week to try to locate him.

John, who has coached some of the stars that represented the USA at the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea, was enjoying a short summer break in the city, as part of a tour of the country.

Barbara said: "We've had a few drinks, a celebration and exchanged stories and contact numbers - there's no way I'm losing him this time."