TWO brothers have met for the first time in their lives, thanks to the power of the internet.
No one could mistake Ian Corley and Paul Hatton, the manager of The Ivory Rooms in Billericay, as anything but brothers.
However, the fact that the pair, who were both born in Doncaster 15 months apart, but had never seen each other up until ten days ago, makes it all the more extraordinary.
They are clearly brothers.
But they have the same taste in clothes and their mannerisms are uncannily similar.
Born Justin Hatton, Ian, the oldest of the two at 43, was put up for adoption when he was just a few days old after his mother Denise Roberts gave birth at 14.
He was subsequently adopted by Pontefract couple Joyce and Bryan Corley, now aged 78 and 80 respectively.
Paul, who now lives in Chafford Hundred, was born in Doncaster but spent much of his childhood in Bedfordshire.
He was born 15 months after Ian and then a third brother Mark was born on July 20, 1972.
After years of failed searches, the family was united thanks to the Genes Reunited website.
Ian, who has lived in Sydney, Australia since 2000, said: "When Paul and I first spoke it was very surreal. What do you say to someone who is your brother, who you have never met?
"But actually it was clear right from the beginning that we were really similar. It's eerie."
The two brothers, who are working together for the next month at The Ivory Rooms until Ian heads back Down-Under, have astounded staff who find it hard to believe they have only just met.
Paul, who was also christened Justin by his mother in memory of the child she gave away, said: "We were working together side by side at the weekend and the staff here are all blown away about how similar our mannerisms are and the way we talk."
Ian had attempted to find his biological family before – the last serious attempt in 2003 when he placed an advert to find his mother in 2003.
After recently Googling his mother again the Genes Reunited link came up with Denise Roberts' birth certificate from Doncaster register office."
Paul said: "After seeing a request from Ian Corley I went on to Facebook. One of the first photos was this guy from Australia. I immediately said: 'that's my brother'!"
He added: "The lead-up to meeting a long-lost brother is stressful. You just don't know how it will work."
Ian said: "At the end of the day, the parents who brought me up are my mum and dad. I've had a fabulous upbringing.
"I didn't know what adoption meant until I was 11 and I've never had an issue being adopted.
"My parents have always said they knew this day would come and said if you are happy we are happy."
He added: "Your head is spinning. On the surface we may appear very cool but on the inside it's like bedlam. My head is a whirl – it's been emotionally draining but it is mind-blowing."
