William Howard Jones has spent most of his life trying to trace his real mother, a search that's seen him come against barrier after barrier. Incredibly, the 60-year search has brought him no nearer to uncovering anything about her.

Howard, now 77 and living in Rhyl, told his moving story in the first of a new BBC Radio Cymru series called Perthyn (Belonging) which was broadcast on Mothering Sunday.

When he was two, Howard was adopted by William and Annie Jones from Glan Conwy. He only found out that he was adopted when at 15 years old a neighbour started quizzing him about his family. He knew her to be a gossip and was unwilling to answer her questions. She called him names and cruelly taunted him saying "Mrs Jones isn't your real mum."

It took Howard completely by surprise.

"My head was spinning, and I started thinking if she knew, who else know?" he says on the programme. "I went home and asked my parents whether it was true, and they confirmed it.

"It was a real shock. My dad brought out my birth certificate and I could see, for the first time ever, my real mother's name - Norah Jones. When I asked them for more information, they refused, saying that they couldn't tell me ... I don't think it was a private arrangement. I think everything was 'above board'. I've got the certificates and everything, and the adoption number so everything must be genuine."

It was after he married that he started seriously looking for information about his real mum. But in all this time, Howard has managed to find out very little abut who he really is.

He knows that he was born in Glanwydden near Llandudno in 1927. His real mum was Norah Jones, who was a nurse in either Llandudno or Bangor, and he stayed with her until he was adopted in 1929. There is evidence that Norah Jones then lived and worked in a hotel in Llandudno called St Kilda's Hotel.

But apart from this Howard knows nothing. His attempts at going through official channels have also been unsuccessful. But he thinks that his parents must have known who she was, and that the fact he was adopted was no secret.

"I didn't share it with anybody. But thinking back, it was obvious," he says. "In chapel, ordinary people would regard me as William and Annie's son, but the funny thing is that deacons never had anything to say to me. Same with my family, some were okay but some, such as my uncle in Anglesey had nothing to say..."

In another twist, Howard and his parents were joined by a relative from Llanddona in Anglesey who turned out to a daughter that his adopted mother, Annie, had out of wedlock.

All Howard has is a picture of his real mother, Norah, in her nurse's uniform, holding twins.

"Am I one of twins or not? I don't know" says Howard. "Why she kept me from 1927 until 1929, I don't know."

There are so many unanswered questions, and so many pieces missing in Howard's life jigsaw.

"Am I angry with Norah for allowing me to be adopted? No I'm not," he says. "In those days, an unmarried young girl having a child was regarded as a sin which brought shame on herself and her family.

"But there's a feeling of loneliness. I sometimes feel as if I'm the only one. There's a void somewhere and I wish I could fill that void."

"It's such a sad tale," says series producer Ann Fôn. "Howard has basically spent his life trying to find out who he is and who his real mum was. He is 77 years old and still searching."

William Howard Jones was one of four adopted individuals discussing the search for their real parents on Radio Cymru's Perthyn. If you can help Howard with his search contact producer Ann Fôn on 01248 374843 or get in touch.