A LONG-LOST cousin of former fruit machines businessman Vince Landa has made a plea for him to get in touch.

Frank Luvaglio last saw Mr Landa more than 30 years ago, and the pair have lost touch.

Mr Luvaglio is attempting to trace his childhood friend, who sprang to prominence through his involvement in the "one-armed bandit" murder trial of the 1960s.

Mr Landa ran a fruit machines gaming empire which supplied one-armed bandits to clubs and pubs in the North-East.

A collector for the company, Angus Sibbett, was shot dead in South Hetton, County Durham, 34 years ago in a murder mystery, which later inspired the film Get Carter, starring Michael Caine.

Two men, Landa's business partner Michael Luvaglio and Dennis Stafford, received prison sentences for the murder, but have always protested their innocence.

Frank Luvaglio, 73, who lives in East Sussex, has told The Northern Echo that he wishes to be reunited with Mr Landa, who changed his name from Luvaglio.

Both men, who were born in London, grew up together visiting each other's homes, but lost touch when Mr Landa moved to the North-East in the 1970s.

Mr Luvaglio said: "As kids, I was four years older than him and was always the older cousin who would sort things out when anyone got on to him.

"Not having seen him for years, I would like to get him and other members of the family back together.

"We were very close - almost like brothers - and I'd like to reminisce about the way things used to be.

"He used to walk into a room and everyone was aware of his presence. He could charm the birds off the trees."

Mr Luvaglio, who has searched the Internet in an effort to find Mr Landa, recalls regularly visiting a restaurant run by Mr Landa in Streatham, London, in the 1960s.

The pair last saw each other at the funeral of Mr Luvaglio's father, Alfonso, 30 years ago.

Mr Landa, who is about 70, was last known to be living in Florida, but may have returned to Europe.