IT took a Maltese TV show, 14 days in a cargo ship and some inspirational animal rescue work to do it - but three brothers have finally been reunited in Hampshire for the first time in over 40 years.

An amazing chain of events meant that the Fenech brothers could realise their dream to be together again despite an unshakeable fear of flying and a distance between them of thousands of miles.

The men, all originally from Malta, travelled to England for a new life in the late 1950s.

Ron, 60, eventually settled in Winchester and Vince, 70, in Shirley, Southampton.

But after deciding that rainy days and copious cups of tea weren't for him, Freddie, 64, soon returned to Malta where he set up a massive home for abandoned and mistreated dogs after retiring from the police force.

His noble work inspired an episode of Maltese TV show Nies ta' Veru which translates as "Real People".

The This is Your Life-style programme honours ordinary people who have done extraordinary things and rewards them with a long-held dream.

Freddie had not been to England for years because he was scared of flying after witnessing the aftermath of a plane crash in the 1970s.

His brother Ron has regularly travelled to Malta over the years but Vince never returned to his homeland - because he, too, was scared to step on a plane.

Undeterred, the Maltese TV crew booked Freddie a place on a cargo ship that took 14 days to reach Southampton - where he could finally surprise his brother.

Ron said: "Vince was totally gob-smacked; it was very emotional for all of us. All of it was caught on camera - right from the moment when Fred got into Southampton docks. Vince and Freddie are both as bad as each other when it comes to flying and it was so nice to all be face to face again.

"We are so proud of what Freddie has achieved. To see him working with the dogs and the love and affection he gives them takes a lot of dedication."

Freddie, who has visited English animal sanctuaries during his two-week visit, said: "This is a fantastic country, you love your animals. Seeing Vince again has been fantastic, I owe my life to him because he used to carry me on his shoulders during air raids in the war."

Freddie said the water was very calm throughout his fortnight trip and far preferable to a three-hour flight.

He set sail for home yesterday.