A FORMER mayor and mayoress of Darlington will celebrate 50 years of marriage this weekend.

Joe Anderson, 74, and his wife, Margaret, 76, met in the early 1950s when they were both working in London.

The couple married on September 14, 1953, but returned to the North-East in 1961.

Mr Anderson, a former railwayman, became a Darlington Labour councillor in 1971 and served as mayor from 1985 to 1986.

He retired the year after to look after his wife when she had two hip operations.

The couple have a daughter, Fiona, 41, who lives in Australia with her husband and children, Rebecca, 15, and Stephen, 11.

A planned trip to Australia to celebrate their golden wedding had to be postponed after Mr Anderson underwent heart surgery.

"It has been the loveliest time of my life being married to Margaret," he said.

"You couldn't ask for a better partnership. When I was poorly, I was determined we'd make it to 50 years."