Two wartime friends have been reunited after more than half a century following an appeal in the Nottingham Evening Post.

Evacuee Barbara Francis, 67, spent most of the Second World War living with a family in Holme Pierrepont.

She now lives in Great Yarmouth but wrote to the Evening Post to see if readers had any photographs of the area for use in her memoirs.

And when the letter was published in the Post, it was spotted by her old best friend, Dot Williams, who called her straight away.

Dot, who now lives near Grantham, said: "I still get the Post and I recognised Barbara's maiden name, Gant, straight away.

"I called her up and she couldn't believe it. She knew who I was immediately."

Barbara said: "I didn't expect such a response. It's been wonderful.

"I also got a call from a man whose sister was evacuated to Holme Pierrepont, he remembered me."

The pair are now planning to meet and there is a possibility of an old schoolmates' reunion at Holme Pierrepont School.

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