Two brothers have met each other for the first time after tracking each other down through the columns of one of our partner papers.

It was a tearful reunion when Keith Schofield, 55, met his brother Sydney Cook, 57 - and realised they had lived just roads from each other and even swam at the same club when they were youngsters.

Keith, of Rectory Road, Rochford, and Sydney, of Lewisham, London, were sent to separate children's homes.

Keith met up with his brother after putting a notice in the Southend Standard.

Finding his brother has ended years of heartache as he went through every means available to track him down.

Keith, now a plant hire manager, was born in Ilford, but sent to a home in Billericay, before being adopted at the age of four and moving in with a family in Harold Hill.

His elder brother had been born in Paddington but was sent to a home in Dagenham.

It is only now they have met that Keith has realised they lived less than a mile from each other at this time and even swam together.

Sydney was adopted when he was 15 and moved in with a family in Rayleigh.

Keith's adopted mother only told him ten years ago that he had a brother and since then he has tried to find him.

The father-of-two said: "I was distraught when I spoke to my brother for the first time. When we got to the house I thought I would not be able to get out of the car, but when we pulled up they came rushing out.

"It was just so emotional, so unbelievable."

Delighted - Keith Schofield with pictures of his reunion with brother Sydney

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.