A FERRYHILL couple who met at a fairground more than 60 years ago have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

Ronald and Mary Dolphin met at Noah's Arc fairground in Spennymoor while Mr Dolphin was on leave from the Army.

The couple spent much of the first three years of their marriage apart because Mr Dolphin was posted to India towards the end of the Second World War. When he returned in 1947 they settled in Spennymoor.

Mr Dolphin was a miner, initially in Dean and Chapter Colliery in Ferryhill, and he stayed with the National Coal Board until his retirement.

Mrs Dolphin, 77, worked at the GEC factory in Newton Aycliffe.

The couple are keen sequence dancers and attend a club at St Luke's Church.

Mr and Mrs Dolphin celebrated their anniversary with a party on Saturday night with their family, including son Ronald, daughter Elizabeth, six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Mr Dolphin, 79, said: "We've always got on well together. Nobody can say they don't have their ups and downs, but we love each other and if I had to do it all again I wouldn't make any changes.

"I've got a good wife and a good family."