Calne physiotherapist Jason Redding is hoping to meet his long-lost father for the first time after tracing him to America.

His father John Russell was an American serviceman based at Greenham Common, Berkshire, from 1968 to 1971, but he lost touch with his girlfriend, Mr Redding’s mother, on his return home.

Mr Redding, who has two teenage children of his own, had always wondered about the whereabouts of his father and whether he was even still alive, so his fiancée Michelle Ravell took up the search on the internet.

After a year of research she struck gold after sending a letter to an address that kept cropping up in her searches.

On November 18 the couple received an email from Mr Redding’s step-brother with a phone number asking him to give his real dad a call and he spoke to him for the very first time.

Mr Redding said: “We talked about one minute and the rest of it was just crying. The only way I can describe it was it was like the time my first child was born.

“He had always tried to find me but he couldn’t get any information about me. I’ve never met him and I’ve never had any photos and now I have three photos of him and his family. Every time I look in the mirror I just see how much I look like him.”

Mr Russell, who is in his 60s, has emphysema which makes it difficult to breathe and is looked after at home by two carers, making it impossible for him to travel.

It would cost around £750 for Mr Redding to fly out to see him and he is appealing for help or sponsorship from a business so he can make the trip by Christmas.

Mr Redding said: “The doctors and the medical board said three years ago he should have died so every minute is precious.

“To go and cuddle him for the first time would be lovely.”

Call Mr Redding on 07794 626218.