A WOMAN searching for her birth mother has told how she “collapsed in a heap and sobbed” when she learned that she is alive and living in Canada and wants to meet her.

Anne Guy, 49, has spent more than 32 years looking for her Govan-born mother after she was adopted at six weeks.

Helen Bell travelled to London in secret to give birth at a mother and baby unit when she was 23 without telling her parents.

Anne was later adopted by a couple from the north of England but had always yearned to know more about her roots.

Within hours of Anne’s story being told by our sister title the Evening Times, they were contacted by a woman who grew up living next to Anne’s mother at 137 Kintra Street in Govan, now derelict ground.

She was able to tell Anne that Helen had left Glasgow a few years after Anne’s birth to emigrate to Canada along with her older brother Joseph.

Another reader then got in touch to say they knew Anne’s brother Willie Bell and was able to put journalists in touch with his eldest daughter, Elaine Murray, Anne’s cousin, who lives in Irvine.

Elaine confirmed that Helen, 73, was alive and well and living in Toronto and that Anne has seven cousins.

The mother and daughter are now gearing up for a highly emotional reunion next year. Helen has said she hopes to travel to Glasgow in the Summer.

Anne said: “When I found out I collapsed in a heap sobbing my heart out.

“I work in a small team and we are quite close. I’d told them what had happened and they kept asking, any news.

“When Les called me he asked if I was sitting down.

“When he told me she was alive and well in Canada, that was it. The floodgates just opened.

“Everyone was crying with me. It was lovely.

“It explains why there was no marriage certificates here in Scotland.

“I’m so happy, it’s the best news ever,

“Elaine didn’t know anything about me. She was shocked and surprised but very nice.

“She rang back the following day with more information.

“Knowing she out there and I’m here it feels weird after all this time. It’s six months until a possible meet is no time at all in the great scheme of things.”

Anne’s mother kept the pregnancy secret and travelled to London when she was seven months pregnant to give birth at a mother and baby home on May 1 1967.

Helen then returned to Glasgow, after her daughter was adopted. Anne, who lives in Ilkeston, in Derbyshire, was adopted by Irene and Mick Guy who told her she was adopted from a young age.

Anne has been helped in her search by a family friend, Les Norman, who is a former police officer.

Les said: “Due to information from Evening Times readers I managed to establish contact with Anne’s cousin and found out she is alive and in good health in Toronto, Canada.

“She married a man named Herb (thought to be a Canadian national) who died four years ago. They had no other children I am told.

“Her elder brother Jackie is 83 years old living in Vancouver and not in good health.

“He married a girl from Govan named Susan.

“Helen’s brothers Joe and William are deceased. Helen’s two sisters, Isobel and Anne are alive.

“Helen’s deceased brother William has five children Colin, Elaine, Tracey, Gordon and Linda.

“Helen’s deceased brother Joe has two children Karen and Lorraine. It means that Anne has at least seven cousins which we know of to date.”

Delighted Anne, who has a daughter Leanne, 29, and is granny to Matilda, has already sent Helen a Christmas card with some family photographs.

She said: “If it hadn’t been for the Evening Times doing the story, I’d still be banging my head against a brick wall.

“I thank the Evening Times and your readers from the bottom of my heart.”