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A homeless dad has been reunited with his long-lost daughter after she spotted an appeal to find him a home by Christmas.

Annie Bryant, 22, was tagged in the Go Fund Me page set up to find Ray Bryant, who was sleeping rough on the streets of Barking, East London, a place to stay.

The pair had been separated for years and Ms Bryant said she had been unable to trace her father because he had no fixed address.

(Image: Archant)

After recognising the man for whom the money was being raised, the mother-of-two commented: "That's my dad I've never met him before but I hope you achieve what he needs thanks for your help to get him a warm home xx."

Mr Bryant, 59, said he hasn't stopped crying with joy since he spoke to Annie on the phone on Thursday.

"I'm so emotional," he said. "I'm still thinking of her as a little girl but she's a grown woman now who's got children of her own - it's just unbelievable."

Ms Bryant, 22, who lives in Devon, said it had been very 'emotional' speaking to her father.

She said: "It was great to talk and our reunion was very emotional, he said he missed me.

"It was overwhelming and startling - it was a lot to take in."

The pair hope to meet up once Mr Bryant has been given somewhere to live.

Mr Bryant was thrown into the social media spotlight after his friend, Lisa Hicks, set up a campaign last week to get a roof over his head with winter looming.

(Image: Archant)

She's already managed to raise almost half the £1,500 target through donations.

Ray suffers from osteoarthritis and deep vein thrombosis and is being tested for cancer. He has been living on the streets and under the Nando’s carpark in Barking for the past year.

If the campaign reaches its target, he should be able to afford a deposit for a council house by Christmas.

Mr Bryant has been living on the streets and under the Nando's car park in Barking for the last year.

(Image: Archant)

Speaking about the campaign, Ray said: "I didn't realise there were that many charitable people out there - they've been fantastic.

"This has all been a massive surprise." Ms Hicks set up the campaign with her friend Lindsey Jane Kelly.

She said: "I've known Ray for many years and he's really having a hard time at the minute.

"He's down on his luck at the moment but he's still a big part of our community."