FIVE sisters have been united for the first time in their lives.

Michelle Penver and her sister Beverley Bernstein, who emigrated from Brighton to America when they were aged just two and five yesterday met the half-sisters they never knew they had.

Michelle and Beverley yesterday came face to face with Sandra Axtell-Brookes and Sharon Puddick who their father Basil, known as Barry, had with his first wife, as well as Charise Cornell, who he had with his third wife.

It was the first time the sisters have ever met face to face, but the similarities between them are striking.

They have discovered they own the same jewellery, wear the same trainers and like the same perfume.

Michelle 57, and Beverley, 59, first traced their long-lost father through the then Evening Argus 30 years ago, then found their missing sisters through Facebook.

Michelle said: "It is nerve wracking and exciting to finally meet them.

"We all have different emotions about our father, but this isn't about him any more, its about us.

"We now have so many more nieces and nephews, children and grandchildren to meet."

Their sixth half sister - Camile - Charise's sister and Barry's daughter with Beryl - now lives in Kentucky and was not able to make the reunion.

Beverley said: "I have been so nervous. People say we look so alike.

"I show people pictures and say - look at this picture of my sister, and then I change the picture to another one, and they're like 'wow'."

Sharon, 61, said she always believed she had siblings she did not know.

"I had an inkling. but I tried not to think about it," she said.

"Then Sandra kept telling me another sister's popped up."

"It is a bit overwhelming but great to finally meet up," Sandra added.