A COUPLE renewed their wedding vows on Saturday - 50 years to the day that they were married.

Myles and Rita Lawson, of Olympic Street, Darlington, celebrated their golden wedding surrounded by family and friends at St John's Church, in the town

It was an emotional day for the couple who met on a bus, when Mr Lawson, now 77, was a bus driver and Mrs Lawson, 73, regularly travelled from Fishburn to Darlington.

They married on April 24, 1954, at St Edmond's Church, Sedgefield, and moved into their first house, in Falmer Road, Darlington.

For 26 years the couple were involved in the local Scouts group, with Mrs Lawson being a Cub leader and Mr Lawson an assistant Cub leader.

In recent years they have been connected to St John's Church, where they have made many friends and been involved in various activities, which Mrs Lawson said helped keep their relationship alive.

Talking about the secrets of their successful marriage, Mrs Lawson said they have always been a very active couple.

"We have also been truthful to each other throughout and never argued about money," she said. "In the long run, we love each other, although we don't say it every day."

Mr Lawson, a church warden, and Mrs Lawson have two sons, John, 49 and Graham, 47, and six grandchildren, aged between 16 and 25.