A SISTER who is desperate to trace her adopted brother after more than 50 years apart has launched a social media campaign to find him.

Jane Mickleboro, 51, from Fairfax Drive, Southend, is looking for her brother who was adopted at 18-months old while they lived in Hullbridge.

Jane said her brother, born Mark Thorpe, was given up to a couple in Hullbridge due to family circumstances in 1961.

She has taken her campaign to find him on to social media and has seen her post for information on Facebook being shared 20,000 times.

Jane said: “I want to find him, but I do also remember that maybe he doesn’t want to be found.

“I have been trying for years.

Every summer holiday I have this urge to do something, and then I go back towork and it goes on a backburner again.”

It is believed Mark’s name was changed to Andrew Long following his adoption and that he would now be around 51-53 years old, but his birth mother is not 100 per cent sure on the birth date.

The search was kick-started again three weeks agowhen Jane was helping her mum move house.

She said: “A photo dropped from one of the boxes and landed at my feet. It was the photo of my brother that I had been looking for for years. It was really spooky.

“I have tried so many things to find him.

“I tried to get onto the show Long Lost Families, contacted every M Long in the phone book, gone through electoral registers, gone to adoption agencies, the Salvation Army.

“I have gone to many sites that help you find family members and I have now turned to Facebook.”

The power of the social media site has seen the search has gone as far as Australia, America and Canada.

Miss Mickleboro, who has another brother, 50, and sister, 30, turned to Facebook to try and get any new leads.

Her inbox has been flooded with messages of information and advice.

She said the rest of the family are behind her 100 per cent and her brother and sister also want to find him.

Jane added: “My mum understands why I amdoing this and is happy to give me any information that's needed."