A World War Two veteran and his wife who were forced apart because of a shortage of carers have finally been reunited.
Former RAF pilot Graham Brown, 93, was heartbroken when Julia, 79, was moved into a care home when daily visits from carers stopped due to council cuts.
Graham, who was given just days’ notice about the move, was left with a daily two-hour round trip by bus to visit her.
But after seven weeks away she is back home after the council agreed to pay a private carer to look after her back at their home in Wells, Somerset.
Julia, who cannot walk unaided, has needed daily home visits since 2011 to get dressed and shower in the morning.
They were stopped by Somerset County Council in March due to a lack of carers and she was moved into a home in Street.
Julia said: “I’m overjoyed. I’ve thought about home every day. Graham has been to see me nearly every day, which has been difficult for him.”
Graham said he was “delighted” to have Julia back and added: “I can now carry on as I used to instead of spending a lot of time travelling every day”.
The council has made a direct payment to a private carer to go to the couple’s home.
William Wallace, the adult social care spokesman for Somerset County Council, said there was a shortage of home care available in the Wells area.
He added: “It’s very unfortunate and we do our best to keep these sort of things to a minimum.”
Mr Brown served as a Wellington bomber pilot in the RAF and married Julia 25 years ago following the death of his first wife.
