Seth Jee discovered a relative after seeing his unusual name in the credits of a television programme.

Seth, from Sayers Common, near Hassocks, could not believe someone else shared his name and decided to find out who the other Seth was.

He tracked the man down in the telephone directory only to discover he was a cousin living in London.

Seth, 63, an insurance broker, met Seth Jee, a 30-year-old actor, for the first time on Brighton's Palace Pier on Saturday.

Actor Seth said: "It was all very bizarre. He phoned me up and said, 'You may not believe this but my name is Seth Jee'.

"He said he thought we may be related. It's a rare last name and the first name is even rarer.

"My mother was there when we met and she could tell it was him 50 yards away, which was amazing."

The actor, the son of Sussex Seth's uncle David, appeared on ITV's Murder In Suburbia in April. His cousin called him days later.

Sussex-based Seth said: "There was a big age gap between my dad and uncle and when my dad died the two sides of the family lost contact.

"My dad was also called Seth, believe it or not.

"Over the years I had thought about making contact with my uncle David.

"But I didn't know what part of the country he lived in or how to go about getting in touch."

Efforts to piece together the family tree almost failed.

Sussex Seth said: "He thought his grandmother was called Louisa and I said mine was called Doris.

"But he spoke to David and found out her name was Louisa but that her husband always called her Doris. That was the last link."

Joining the two Seths at the reunion on Saturday were David and wife Jean, another cousin Ryan and fiance Georgina and actor Seth's wife Bethany.

Sussex Seth booked a table at the Hotel Du Vin restaurant in Ship Street.

He said: "It was the first time I'd seen my uncle since 1947.

"We caught up on what we had been doing for the last 50 years. We just talked and talked and talked. We were there for about six hours.

"In the end the management had to move us from where we were sitting. It was absolutely wonderful."

His aunt Jean, 58, who travelled down from Birmingham, said: "There are so many strange coincidences it's difficult to get your head round.

"My son Seth's birthday is on the same day as one of my nephew Seth's grandchildren.

"My husband was in tears on the day. It was very emotional for him."

Sussex Seth said the family planned to meet up again soon.

He said: "I'm going to take my children and grandchildren to meet David in Birmingham.

"It's great to know I have an extended family again."