CELEBRATING their diamond wedding yesterday Durham couple Alexander and Edna McKechnie attributed their successful marriage to a lifetime of teamwork.

They held an open house at their Framwellgate Moor home and guests were shown a congratulatory card from The Queen.

The couple were married in 1944 at St Peter's Church in Bramley, near Leeds.

Mr McKechnie said: "It has always been a case of give and take, and we have always sat down and discussed everything to do with ourselves and our family. We have always worked as a close team."

Mr McKenchie, a prison officer, was posted to Durham in 1971. He retired from the service in 1979 as a chief officer and became a caretaker at the Masonic Hall, in Durham, retiring when he was 80.

For five-and-a-half years, Mr McKenchie was a member of the Mayor of Durham's bodyguard. The present Mayor of Durham, Councillor Mary Hawgood, visited the couple yesterday to congratulate them.

Mr McKechnie, 85 and Mrs McKechnie, 83, have five children, Andrea, Brian, Maureen, Barbara and Neil, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.