A couple who met when they were teenagers celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary with a visit from the Mayor.

Richard and Mildred Holden, from Ladybridge, were marking the occasion with a few drinks at home with family and friends when the Mayor, Cllr Barbara Ronson, called in to congratulate them.

The couple, who grew up in Bolton, married at St Michael's Church in Great Lever on October 18, 1947. They had a ham tea before heading to Morecambe for their honeymoon.

From there they moved to Malvern for a few years but returned to Bolton in 1950 when Mr Holden got a job with British Aerospace.

They have two children, Jean, aged 58, who lives in Canada, and John, aged 52, who lives in Hampshire. They have four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Richard, aged 83, and Mildred, aged 82, met when they were 15 on a trip for families of the Royal Flying Corps but did not see each other again until they bumped into each other at a dance hall when they were 20. They have been together ever since.

Mrs Holden said: "We keep busy all the time, have a very good sense of humour and support each other.

"We are very content and that's the main thing. We are very happy with our lot."