Four former Bradford police officers met up for the first time in more than 30 years thanks to an appeal in the Telegraph & Argus.

Wendy Chadwick, Maureen Dinn and Judith Acton became firm friends when they joined Bradford City Police, as it was known, as raw recruits in December, 1965.

The trio became a quartet when they linked up with cadet Pamela Johnson after they returned to Bradford from their introductory training.

And on August 24, 1968, the four had a picture taken for posterity when they attended Wendy's wedding to Kenneth in St John's Church in Great Horton where Pamela was a bridesmaid.

Sadly, the friends lost contact soon afterwards when Maureen flew off to Australia with her husband Terry.

But more than three decades later the quartet lined up for a reunion picture and pub lunch in Bradford after Maureen turned up unannounced on Wendy's doorstep last week.

Mrs Chadwick, 54, of Fairweather Green, said: "It all started when a picture of Maureen's husband, Terry, appeared in the T&A when he was at a signing for the paper's Stories of the Century book last November.

"I put an appeal in the paper for anyone who knew about his whereabouts to get in touch and he rang up himself. He told me that he and Maureen had split up but he still lived near her in Canberra in Australia and gave me her address.

"I wrote to her telling what had happened to the rest of us over the last 30 years but I didn't get a reply so I just forgot it. Then I had a knock at the door last week and when I opened it there was Maureen standing in front of me.

"It was unbelievable to see her after all these years. I telephoned Pamela and Judith and as soon as they heard Maureen was back they rushed round to meet up."

The four friends chose Ruby's Pub and Restaurant in Wyke, which had been an old haunt of theirs back in the 60s, for their reunion on the same date of Wendy's 32nd wedding anniversary.

Wendy, who left the force to become a mother after her wedding, said: "We never stopped talking, catching up on all the news and what had happened to all our old colleagues in the police.

"Judith, Pamela and myself have agreed to meet up regularly and Maureen said she will send a yearly newsletter to us from Australia. And this was all down to a chance picture appearing in the T&A."