A CHANCE meeting in a car park between two old schoolfriends has led to plans for a grand school reunion, 45 years after many pupils last saw each other.

Members of the 1959/60 year of Chester-le-Street Modern School will meet at the Chester-le-Street Cricket Club in the town's Ropery Lane on Friday, May 21.

Anne Blenkiron, 60, of Chester-le-Street, said: "It all started when I bumped into Joyce Clarke in a car park.

"We had not seen each other since school, but recognised each other immediately. It was incredible.

"I had been keeping in touch with Ellen Newland from Chester-le-Street, and Joyce had been keeping contact with Margaret Richardson who now lives in Nottingham.

"They in turn knew Elaine Stephenson and Audrey Patterson and last year the six of us got together and when we did we decided we ought to have a proper grand reunion."

Mrs Blenkiron (nee Watson) said they had managed to trace some other former pupils through the telephone book.

Others were traced via the internet through Friends Reunited. The timing of the reunion has been arranged to accommodate Jean Mowbray who be will flying back from Australia for a holiday.

Mrs Blenkiron said: "If everyone turns up we should have more than 30 people. And we want to welcome more who may be able to make it."

Mrs Blenkiron can be contacted at (0191) 388 4341.