AFTER growing up apart – unaware of each other’s existence - two Stourbridge sisters have been brought together by a twist of fate after both applied for jobs at the town’s new KFC restaurant.

Replacing the chicken chain’s Amblecote eaterie, the ring road-facing branch was officially opened by the outgoing Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Mohammed Hanif, on Monday (May 15).

The new store has brought more than 40 jobs to the town, with two of those taken up by Sherrie Smith, aged 21, and her teenaged half-sister Laura Woodhouse, who met for the very first time at their KFC interviews.

The pair were not even aware of each other until Laura’s mum told her daughter the surprising news two years ago - while Sherrie was kept in the dark.

Intrigued, the 17-year-old contacted her older sister on Facebook and they exchanged a few messages but nothing more.

More than a year later, however, the sisters found out they had both applied for the same jobs.

Sherrie told the News: “I did wonder whether I had any brothers or sisters, there was always that thought. But as soon as I found out about Laura it was like a whole new life had opened up.”

Laura said: “At first I was quite angry as my dad had never told me about Sherrie. But when we first met we clicked straight away. We’re both really happy that this KFC store has brought us together and it will keep us together too.”

The sisters finally met for the first time when Laura picked up Sherrie to take her to their first day at KFC's assessment centre where they had a group interview together.

Sherrie was anxious to meet Laura for the first time. “I thought, ‘what do I say? What do I ask her?’," she said.

“When I finally saw her get out of the car, we were both in floods of tears. It was so overwhelming seeing her.”

Laura added: “When I was watching Sherrie at the KFC group interview it filled me with pride seeing how confident she was.

“We told some of the other candidates at the group interview and they even said that we look alike.

“It feels absolutely amazing to finally have an older sister – we’ve already been out for a nice meal in Stourbridge.”

After passing the vigorous interview process, both Laura and Sherrie were taken on as full-time staff members at the new ring-road KFC branch and are now looking forward to getting to know each other.

Sherrie said: “We get on really well. It’s just a shame that we didn’t get to grow up together.

“But working together will be a really good chance for us to get to know each other more and catch up on lost time.”

The new drive-thru restaurant will be open daily between 10.30am and 11pm.