A pair of childhood sweethearts who were reunited after 60 years have been forced apart again by illness.

Ethel Howell, 88, met Lionel Woodhead when she was just 15 years old but it was a chance meeting when they were 80 which finally brought them together.

The couple had seven happy years. But then, tragically, Lionel developed Parkinson's Disease and is now seriously ill in a nursing home.

Ethel, of Dorothy House, Peacehaven, said: "Even when I was happily married to somebody else, I knew I still had feelings for Lionel."

Love blossomed for the teenagers in the village of Barkham, near Lewes. But Lionel's parents frowned upon the relationship.

They met in secret for five years until his parents forced a split by sending Lionel to board at Brighton College. The Second World War spelt the end of their love affair and both married other people and had children.

Ethel said: "The war affected everybody's lives in an enormous way. But I never forgot about Lionel."

After leaving the army, Lionel joined Barclays Bank and lived in Rottingdean. One day he literally bumped into Ethel in the street. Both their marriages had ended, so they decided to moved into a flat together and Ethel was encouraged by her children to get their story into print.

A paperback version was published when Ethel was 80.

"When Lionel became ill, it soon became impossible for me to look after him. I still visit him regularly but he is very ill now. Still, at least we had a second chance," she said.