A FORTY-YEAR search for her father led a North-East woman to two half-sisters she never knew existed.

Mother-of-two Maureen Ridley from Stanley, County Durham, had not seen Richard Hall since the 1950s when he left her mother.

It was not until she married husband Ivan in 1963 that Mrs Ridley began to search for the father she last saw when she was aged ten.

She found his address last month only to discover he had died three years previously.

However, she was able to track down half sisters Deirdre and Vanessa and the three will meet for the first time, in Kent next month.

Mrs Ridley found her father's address through a company called called Traceline which seeks missing people .

She said: "I'd never got anywhere before and I didn't hold out much hope but about three weeks later a letter came. He had died in 2001. I was devastated."

It was only when the death certificate arrived last month that she realised she may have a sister. Spotting the name Deirdre Ryan, she contacted her.

She said: "Deirdre and her sister Vanessa had never been told about me so it was a massive shock to them both. But she was wonderful. We sent each other photographs and started to learn about each other's lives and families.

"It's a shame that I found my father too late but, at the same time, I've found a family I didn't know I had. It goes to show you should never give up."