A TENBURY Wells woman is one of the stars of Monday night's episode of Long Lost Family on ITV, an episode which the makers themselves say is one of the most complex cases they've ever helped with.

Sara Hathaway, an occupational therapist for the past 31 years, had always known she was adopted, but it was only when her beloved adoptive mother and brother died in the same year that she felt able to begin the search for her birth mother. Sara grew up with her two brothers, one younger, one older and both also adopted: "They told us about (being adopted) before we ever noticed it ... it was never a taboo subject," she says.

"Our parents always gave us the go-ahead to search if we wanted to. I couldn't do it while Mum was alive, but when she passed away it was such a massive fact in my life. I had my own children and thought 'how can you give up babies and children?'

It turned out that her birth mother, Sallie, had died in 2014 – but when shown a picture of her birth mother. "I felt nothing," she says. "I didn't think I looked like her."

Reunited searcher Sara Hathaway (centre) with her found sister Kerry Sanderson (left) and her found brother Steve Williams (right) Sara, Kerry and Steve are maternal siblings

Reunited searcher Sara Hathaway (centre) with her found sister Kerry Sanderson (left) and her found brother Steve Williams (right) Sara, Kerry and Steve are maternal siblings

The story didn't end there though and she is still processing all that she discovered: "The most shocking thing is that you have your own story in your head and I was absolutely gob-smacked to find that I had an older brother, Steve," she said.

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The shocks kept on coming, however, and Ms Hathaway learned she also had a sister, Kerry, also given up for adoption, but already in touch with Steve. They had been introduced as adults by their grandmother and are very close.

Two further siblings were able to add to the picture of the 'complex character' her birth mother had been.

"No one knew about me until the programme. I was a complete and total secret. Now, at 57, I have got to learn to have a sister. I'm not used to that."

"It's massive," said Ms Hathaway, "discovering siblings. When I was shown the photo of Steve I felt an instant connection. I can't describe it. It was just there. I think he would say the same."

Long Lost Family is on ITV1 on Monday, July 10 at 9pm.