The Manchester Evening News's exclusive story of the reunion of Ken and Yvonne Whitty was followed up by most of the national media including The Sun, Daily Mail, Telegraph and Daily Express.

Ken, who had not seen his sister for 39 years, placed a notice in the MEN's In Touch column which features messages from people looking for long-lost relatives or friends.

Within hours, a friend of Yvonne's had seen the notice and she contacted Ken later that day leading to an emotional reunion which featured on MEN’s front page.

The pair discovered that they had been living round the corner from each other and Ken had often walked past Yvonne’s house and seen her in the garden without realising that she was his long-lost sister.

"It's a perfect example of the local community service that weekly and regional newspapers provide," said MEN editor Paul Horrocks.

"In Touch is a tried and tested column which we have been running for decades and people rely on it for information. Sometimes, it produces the most spectacular results which give spectacular stories."