Taxi trip reunites father and son

The reunion began with a chance encounter

A taxi driver cried tears of joy after realising that the man in the back of his cab was the son he last saw 34 years ago.

Barry Bagshaw, 61, was so shocked he had to stop the car and end his shift.

His son Colin, 39, who was about to leave Brighton for good, had thought his father was dead.

The pair then discovered that they were living just streets apart.

Barry Bagshaw, from Peacehaven near Brighton, said: "I was just utterly dumbfounded. I didn't recognise him at first but when I did it was fantastic."

The meeting was very shocking, but it was a very pleasant shock

Colin Bagshaw

The chance meeting happened when Barry, who works for Meridian Taxis, picked up a fare at the nearby Brighton Motel.

The woman accompanying the man in the back spotted Barry's identity badge and noticed he shared her boyfriend's surname.

Barry said: "The woman said 'that's funny, you and my boyfriend have the same surname'.

"Then the man asked me if my first name was Barry, and I said yes. He then said I'm Colin'. It was at that point that I realised.

'Amazing moment'

"I was stunned. I couldn't believe it. It was an amazing moment, very emotional.

"He had been working in a Brighton hotel but had left to find a job in London. He was just going back to pick up some things the day I picked him up.

"It was so lucky we didn't miss each other."

Barry lost touch with his children when his marriage broke down while he was working in the army in Hong Kong,

Colin said: "I didn't recognise him at all when I got into the taxi. I thought he was probably dead.

"The meeting was very shocking, but it was a very pleasant shock."

French connection

It was not the first time Barry's taxi has brought him good luck.

Two years ago he picked up a French woman who was travelling back to her home country because her mother was seriously ill.

The pair hit it off and eventually married.

Barry's wife, Jose, said: "Two days ago, when he came home in tears saying 'I've met Colin', I didn't realise who he meant.

"He said the most wonderful thing had happened and that he had met his son Colin by chance. He had tears running down his face.

"He is so happy. He's been drinking champagne ever since."