Eight years ago the Mishon brothers were hardly talking. Today they are closer than ever after one saved the other's life.

Toby Mishon donated one his kidneys to save his older brother Glen.

Eight years ago the pair fell out while working together as estate agents in Brighton.

Today they getting their lives back in order after the successful operation.

Glen, who lives with wife Barbara and daughter Jessica in Hove, discovered his kidneys were failing because, despite going to a gym and playing golf, he felt lethargic and was getting breathless.

Last year he was warned if something was not done he would have to go on to permanent dialysis and face the prospect of his life being cut short.

In stepped Toby, 35, who lives near Seven Dials, Brighton. He volunteered to go under the knife so his brother could have one of his kidneys. Tests showed the match was possible.

Leading kidney surgeons Michael Bewick and Renee Chang agreed to carry out the operations at St George's Hospital, Tooting.

Glen said: "We were both very nervous. We had some real giggles. We specially asked if we could both be next to each other and they agreed. Normally people are put in separate wards."

Toby was taken down to the operating theatre first and Glen went down 20 minutes later.

But it was Toby who went through the most traumatic experience during the operation when he lost four pints of blood and surgeons had to saw through one of his ribs to get to the healthy kidney.

Toby said: "I was in pain and so was my brother. I think the hardest thing was waking up in hospital and seeing Glen in an adjacent bed with an oxygen mask on and tubes coming out of his body."

Glen said: "It was obvious Toby was in the greatest pain. The greatest pain for me was when they took the catheter out."

The two brothers were discharged from hospital after four days with the medical team keeping a close eye on them both.

Initially it was Glen who felt better while his brother was sore but there was another setback for Glen when the steroids he was given made him diabetic.

Now both brothers are on the mend.

Toby said he was fighting fit and ready to try for his black belt at kickboxing.

He is back at work as an information technology consultant in London.

He said: "Even when we were not talking, I would have still done this for my brother."

Glen is also back at work overseeing house sales for his Brighton and Hove estate agency Mishon Mackay, which he runs with Alex Mackay.

He said: "I am not so breathless. I am able to walk upstairs without getting out of breath. I am now working three days a week, so people who want to see me can see me."

Asked how he felt towards his brother, Glen said: "I feel embarrassed when people ask me about that, "But if it was not for him, I would be on permanent dialysis. I could also have died.

"Words of thanks are not adequate enough. I think he is incredibly brave and generous. It has also created a new bond between us."