John Renehan had an emotional reunion with 71-year-old John Delaney.

Police wrongly identified Mr Delaney as a man who was found dead in the grounds of the Manchester Royal Infirmary in 2003. Mr Renehan, aged 42, duly organised a funeral at the Manchester Crematorium.

But earlier this year, he was watching a programme about missing people - and recognised his dad, alive and living in a care home in Oldham. Mr Delaney, who had gone missing in 2000, had received a blow to the head and suffered complete memory loss.

Mr Renehan, an engineer from Didsbury, laughed and joked with his dad on Thursday as they walked round the gardens of the care home in Chadderton, Oldham, Greater Manchester.

They shared a cup of tea and a cigarette as they caught up on old times. Dad-of-two Mr Renehan has been spending time at the home trying to help Mr Delaney - who still suffers from amnesia - learn about his past.

Mr Delaney, sporting a smart jacket and tie, smiled and held his fists up to his son in a friendly gesture recalling the pair's shared love of boxing.

In return, Mr Renehan planted a kiss on his dad's head and said: "It's fantastic to see him. We thought we had lost him."

Mr Renehan revealed his 11-year-old daughter had recently met her grandad for the first time and was now acting like a 'care worker'.

His aunts have also been to see Mr Delaney. Greater Manchester Police has admitted "mistakes were made" and Mr Delaney should have been identified when he turned up, dazed and confused, at the Royal Oldham Hospital in 2000.

Mr Renehan and his family had reported their dad missing - and GMP put out a public request for information, including a picture of Mr Delaney in April 2000. When he turned up in a confused state at the Royal Oldham Hospital 10 days later, police were informed but no-one put the cases together.

But the case leaves a new mystery - the identity of the man cremated in 2003. Police have now launched an investigation.

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