Cousins reunited by chance in store café

Former hairdressser Diane Cristy-Lewis, 63, from Roundhay, Leeds, was shopping at Waitrose in nearby Meanwood and called in at the café when she spotted a familiar face at another table.

She said: “I went over and said ‘Might you be Gloria?’ She said yes. We knew each other instantly. It must be more than 35 years since we last were in touch.”

Gloria Lazarus, 77, from Moortown, was delighted to see her cousin once again. They now meet up regularly for lunch or coffee and another reunion has since taken place with their older cousin June Manning, 82.

Mrs Cristy-Lewis said: “I really don’t think we would have been able to find each other, if we had not bumped into each other in Waitrose. Time passes by and I moved from Leeds to York, then back to Leeds again three years ago. It really was a dramatic reunion, like something from a television drama. They look so well and we are all pleased to be back in touch.”

A Waitrose spokeswoman said: “We are delighted they have been reunited and to celebrate gave them a bottle of champagne in store.”