Distraught Oxfordshire dad Richard Peverell has been reunited with his estranged son after a heartfelt appeal in the Oxford Mail, writes Katherine MacAlister.

In January, Mr Peverell's three-year-old son Tom was taken on a 6,000-mile three-week holiday to South Africa by his mother. But it wasn't until last week that the pair returned to the UK after Mr Peverell, of Coopers Green, Bicester, appealed in the Oxford Mail to his ex-wife Jenny to come home. Mr Peverell, 33, has just spent a week with Tom making up for lost time.

He said: "When Jenny phoned on April 1, I was over the moon. I had taken the week off work just in case and drove straight up to Bristol to pick Tom up.

"When Tom saw me he gave me a big hug. He just walked up to me and threw his arms around me.

"It's just so nice to have him back in the country and we have really bonded well over the past week. He hasn't changed at all.

"He has picked up a bit of a South African accent, though, and he can swim without his armbands."

Father and son spent the week in Oxford swimming and playing, meeting the rest of Tom's family and visiting friends in Manchester.

But earlier this week Mr Peverell had to drive him back to Bristol, where his ex-wife, formerly of Thame, is temporarily living with her mother.

"The time just went so quickly," he said.

His former wife, 32, who has refused to comment, has decided to live in Bristol permanently.

Mr Peverell will be able to see his son once a fortnight.

Story date: Wednesday 12 April

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