A man who longed to find the sisters he never knew has been reunited with them thanks to The Argus.

For years Peter Courtney did not know where his two sisters lived.

He was brought up as an only child by his grandmother in Hove and his father, Leo Gibson, settled down with a new family and had two daughters.

But more than 50 years later, Peter, 64, has finally found his half-sisters thanks to a story in The Argus.

Susan Gibson, 52, and Jennifer Gibson, 58, are his only link with the father he never knew.

Peter was shocked to discover he had grown up within three miles of his sisters and they were still living in the same area.

In July, more than 30 members of the family, who had flown in from around the world, had an emotional reunion.

Susan, who lives in Brighton, said: "I never knew I even had a brother until the story appeared in The Argus. My mother and older sister Jennifer kept it from me for more than 50 years. It came as a complete shock.

"To find out you have a brother is shocking enough but to discover I could have passed him in the street while growing up was a complete bombshell."

The reunion was sparked by an appeal for information in Where Are They Now? in The Argus in April this year.

Karla Nielson, who lives in Denmark, was planning a visit to Brighton and wanted to contact members of the Gibson family, whom she was related to.

Susan, who has four grown-up children, said: "When I saw the story in The Argus, I was excited and decided to write back. I had no idea I would find a brother."

Peter, who moved to Spain 20 years ago, had always wondered where his sisters were but had found it too difficult to make contact with the family he never knew.

When his daughter, Caron Brown, read the appeal in The Argus, she knew it was the perfect opportunity to search for her father's long lost sisters.

Caron, 42, of Buckingham Avenue, Shoreham, said: "I had to do it for my father. Jennifer and Susan were the only ones who could provide answers. I wrote to Karla but she was quite upset she couldn't help. We both came to a standstill."

When Karla eventually received a letter from Susan and Jennifer, Caron planned a reunion but kept it a secret from her father until he visited her in July.

She said: "When I told him face-to-face he was flabbergasted."

The reunion at Caron's house was infused with emotion. While the champagne flowed, so did the tears.

Susan said: "The very first thing that struck me was when Peter put his hand in his pocket. My father died when I was 18 but that action brought his memory flooding back. They were so similar in a lot of ways. It was an overpowering moment."

Susan said: "If it hadn't been for The Argus, I may never have known he existed. I am so grateful for the opportunity of getting to know him.

"Fifty years have gone by but I will never lose touch with Peter now. He is my flesh and blood."

Susan and Jennifer intend to spend time getting to know Peter when he visits again from Spain this weekend.