Distant relatives from the opposite ends of the world met for the first time - thanks to the Telegraph & Argus.

Julie Whittaker, 37, from Perth in Western Australia, was tracing her family tree after her grandmother, Elizabeth Starkey, of Shipley, died aged 96.

Julie used the 'Get in Touch' section on the T&A's website - address www.thisisbradford.co.uk - to try to trace relatives.

And for 77-year-old Mary Hall, of Compton Street, Dudley Hill, it was a revelation.

For among the people Julie - who was born in Undercliffe - was hunting was Mary's father Jonas Hall-Mitchell.

Julie had discovered that Jonas, who owned Mitchell's hardware store on Leeds Road, was her distant cousin.

Julie and her 11-year-old twins, Ben and Emma, met Mary and her husband, Fred, 74, pictured together, for the first time during a visit to Bradford to see her parents, Brian and Jean Tasker.

Fred said: "Julie came to the house and it was as if she had been there a million times before.

"I took the twins to fly radio-controlled model aeroplanes, which is my hobby. Ben especially seemed to enjoy it. It has been great to meet them all."

Julie said: "I had forgotten all about the appeal until Mary got in contact.

"It was a nice surprise. Fred and Mary have been lovely."

Julie, who is managing director of a transport company, hopes to see the couple again before she returns to Australia at the end of this month.