TWO men who met as teenagers when they served overseas on National Service have been reunited in York more than 60 years later.

Tony Cole and David Littlewood were 18-years-old when they signed up for national service in 1954, on a journey which took them both to Malaya, as it was known, and then Northern Ireland.

They shared experiences including jungle patrols and serving in Northern Ireland during a tumultuous time in the country's history.

But when they returned to York two years later they went their separate ways and despite once working for the same business, never saw each other again.

That was until Tang Hall Local History Group began looking into the roles carried out by people in the city as they served on National Service. They noted that two serving men joined up at the same time and went through the same postings.When questionnaires came back from local people, they were able to identify Tony and David.

The two were reunited by history group member Ralph Peacock.

Tony, 83, of Heworth, said the men spent a long time reminiscing and he especially remembered David from their journey by ship out to Malaya, now Malaysia.

He said about the reunion: " I thought it was great. I never dreamed that we would meet up again."

Ralph said he was delighted to be able to reunite the two men.

He said: " It was absolutely fantastic.

"To think you could have a reunion 60 odd years on is unbelievable.

"It was most fascinating listening to them. The project has been well worth it."

The Tang Hall Local History Group has been able to identify five York men who died on National Service and a role of honour has been put up in All Saints Church Pavement in their memory.