A COUPLE have renewed their wedding vows 50 years to the day after they first said "I do".

Friends and family travelled from across the world to celebrate Frank and Maud Newton's golden wedding.

The couple's son and his family flew in for the occasion from Sydney, Australia.

Their daughter and her family travelled from Ireland to join them.

Mr and Mrs Newton, who live in Gent Road, Bishop Auckland, were married at St Paul's Church, Witton Park, on July 25, 1953.

They have know each other since they were children.

Mr Newton, 74, said he always knew his wife, now 70, was special.

The former long-distance lorry driver said: "You will never believe that two people can still be in love at our age. I've had my eye on her since she was in infant class.''

Mrs Newton, who worked as an auxiliary nurse, said the two of them had had 50 happy years of marriage so far and never do anything without each other.

She said: "I think we are more in love with each other now than we have ever been."

The couple and 85 guests celebrated with a party at Evenwood Social Club after renewing their vows at Cockton Hill Methodist Church.