They became best friends – then discovered they were brother and sister

As they were driving to their mother’s house, Dave realised where he was. They were driving along the bus route he used to cover before becoming a manager.

His old route had taken him right past his mother’s house, and the school that Andrea had attended.

He had been within touching distance of his birth family without realising.

Susan said finally meeting Dave was a surreal moment.

“There were lots of tears. Then we just all hugged,” said Andrea.

“I couldn’t believe that I’d got my brother and my mum together, it was amazing.”

Andrea’s mother had told her that she had a brother when she was younger.

She told her he had been given up for adoption and had gone to a lovely lady who could not have children of her own.

“I immediately wanted to go and call him so we could play,” Andrea said.

Susan said she had tried to find her son with the help of the Salvation Army, but had not got anywhere.

“I asked if we could go and get him back,” Andrea said. “She did explain that it didn’t work that way, so I promised her that I would find him for her one day.”

Now they were finally being reunited.

“She had wanted that since being as young as I can remember,” Andrea added.

“So yeah, I gave her that. I promised her that.”

On the mantlepiece in Susan’s home was a picture of Dave as a baby.

It had been sent by his adopted parents to his birth mother days after his adoption.

The same photograph had also been displayed in his adopted parents’ house.

Dave had known since he was 10 that he was adopted, because his adoptive parents had shown him the paperwork.

But he said he had a very happy childhood, and had never harboured any desire to track down his birth mother.

“I didn’t feel like I had to go searching or have any unanswered questions,” he added.