A PENSIONER from Weymouth has been reunited with her brother - after more than 60 years apart.

Marion Cooke, 67, was separated from brother Robert Perryman when their parents split at the end of the Second World War.

They were both overwhelmed when they met in a seafront hotel on Saturday.

Mrs Cooke was just five when she left for India with mother Agnes, leaving her father - also Robert - and brother in Britain.

But now the siblings - who nearly gave up hope of seeing each other again - have enjoyed an emotional reunion. Marion, of Poplar Close, said: "I'm still so shocked, my stomach's in knots. It's the nicest surprise I could ever have wished for."

The pair, who were born in Kent, last saw each other in 1945 - a day Marion barely recalls. "My parents were splitting and I left with my mother, who was a nurse," she said.

"All I remember is my brother taking us to the boat. He and my father were in the army and stayed here.

"That's the last contact I had with Robert - until now."

Former school cook Marion returned to England at the age of 12 and went on to have four children and several grandchildren.

She followed daughter Wendy down to Weymouth seven years ago - fearing Robert may have already passed away.

"I didn't remember much about him and he was never really spoken of," she said.

"I've grown up and lived my life without really knowing I had a brother, let alone an extended family. It's unbelievable."

Marion was gobsmacked when Robert's eldest son Graham wrote to her revealing her brother was alive and well in Somerset.

She said: "I couldn't believe it when the letter arrived.

"It explained how Robert has been married for nearly 60 years, has three grown-up sons, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

"Apparently he tried many times to trace me but never had any luck. I had no idea, it's just incredible.

"I got straight on the phone to him but I couldn't speak. I was crying and he was in tears as well, but I'm so glad I made that call.

"I didn't know what to expect but he was so nice. He said he wanted to come down and see me in Weymouth and now here he is.

"The last thing he had of me was a photograph taken when I was 18 months old and I had curly blonde hair.

"I warned him before he came down that it's still pretty curly but it's not so blonde any more."

Robert, 81, travelled from his Bridgwater home to Weymouth to be reunited with Marion.

He said: "It's hard to put into words just what this means to me. Words are beyond me.

"I'm quite emotional as you can imagine, 60 years is an awfully long time."

Son Graham said he used the government agency Traceline to finally track Marion down.

"My father's been trying to find her for years but without success.

"He's getting older now and he was still talking about her a lot, so I found her and sent her the letter.

"It's fantastic for them to meet again. They've just got so much to say to each other."