A JAPANESE prisoner of war has had a tearful reunion with his long-lost brother - after being spotted in a television documentary about the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai.

Fred Seiker hopes to visit Holland for one last chance to see Paul, who is terminally ill.

The two lost contact 28 years ago, following a series of house moves.

The National Geographical Television Channel contacted him at his Worcester home, last week, after the documentary was screened in his homeland.

"They rang to say they'd had a strange phone call from a man claiming to be my brother," said the 88-year-old, of Raven Drive, St Peter's.

"They said his name was Paul, and I said 'That's my brother' and they gave me a phone number.

"I rang him and said 'It's your brother'. There was silence and he was so overcome. It was heart-rending. He cried and I shed a few tears - it was so incredible. I can't wait to meet him."

Fred was born in Rotterdam and was a Japanese POW from 1942 to 1945.

He is desperate to visit his 76-year-old brother, who is awaiting test results for the rare Waldenstrm Cancer and does not know how long he has to live.

"It's almost fate, but I can't get around as much as I'd like and he can't get around at all," he said. "I want to see him as soon as possible."

Mr Seiker is an artist who survived the building of the Thai-Burma railway known as the Railway of Death.

His sketches of Japanese atrocities are in his book, Lest We Forget, published by Bevere Vivis Gallery Books.

He said his brother could not afford the drug needed to help his cancer, and had started The Party of Age Concern group for senior citizens to campaign for the drug.

"He's a fighter. He's helped immensely by his wife, and I'm very proud of him," added Fred, who is married to Liz. They have one daughter and two grandchildren.