A man has been united with family he had never met – after searching for them for most of his life.

Ray Martin, 56, was adopted when he was five days old and knew nothing of his mother, except her name, Maureen Robinson, and the fact she lived near Newcastle.

He spent decades looking for her, but always drew a blank.

Two years ago his son, Alan, and daughter-in-law Catherine decided to take up the search.

The family, who all live in Greenstead, Colchester, started making regular trips to Newcastle to search records in the city’s library.

Full story in today's Gazette