A PENSIONER achieved his greatest wish when he met the half-brother and sister he feared he may never see.

There were hugs and tears all round at the weekend as Peter Rayner finally met the children of his father's second marriage.

Naomi Vernon and John Rayner travelled from New Zealand for the meeting, having fulfilled their pledge to one day make the journey to see Peter.

The three spent the weekend with other family members, swapping stories and getting to know their respective half-brothers and sisters.

Peter, 80, from Durham, was conceived in New Zealand, but his mother, Kathleen Rayner, became homesick.

She left her husband John, Peter's father, in New Zealand and travelled to her home town of Newport, on the Isle of Wight.

Peter was born and brought up in the Isle of Wight, but met and went on to marry a County Durham woman, Mary, during war service in the RAF. Having initially lived in the Isle of Wight, they soon came North to settle in County Durham.

Peter knew for many years about his father's children from his second marriage and kept in contact, one day hoping to meet his half-brother and sister.

That wish came true on Saturday, when Naomi and John arrived at his house in Framwellgate Moor.

They made the 12,000-mile, 22-hour flight, from New Zealand, arriving in Manchester, earlier in the week.

After seeing other long-lost relatives, they were met in Cheshire by Peter's daughter Maureen Ward, from Ushaw Moor, Durham, who brought them up to see their half-brother.

Maureen said it was a happy household in Lilac Avenue, when they walked in to fulfil her father's wish.

She said: "There were hugs and tears and everyone was so thrilled.

"Although they have kept in touch, it has been my father's greatest wish that they would meet up."