CHILDHOOD sweethearts Colin and Gladys Hutchinson are celebrating 50 years of marriage yesterday.

The couple, who are both 70, first met at school in Osmotherley, near Northallerton, and were married at St Peter's Church in the village.

Mrs Hutchinson was born at Osmotherley and her husband at Scaling, between Guisborough and Whitby.

Following National Service in the RAF, Mr Hutchinson worked as a driver for two local firms before he became a personnel officer at Kosset Carpets in Northallerton. He then became a plant overseer at British Chrome and Chemicals at Urlay Nook, near Eaglescliffe, from where he retired through ill health.

In her younger days Mrs Hutchinson worked in a sweet shop at Osmotherley and in a cotton mill at Brompton, near Northallerton, but finally retired after 27 years as an auxiliary nurse at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.

The couple, who have lived in Bedale since 1995, have two daughters, three grandsons, one granddaughter and one great granddaughter.

Mr Hutchinson said: ''We have stuck together as childhood sweethearts. We have worked hard and have had a good life.'' His wife said: ''I couldn't have wished for a better husband.''

Their anniversary was on Friday.