DEVOTED couple Arthur and Edith Duff celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary yesterday.

Taking pride of place among the many cards adorning their Easington village home, in County Durham, was a message of congratulations from the Queen.

But even the Royal good tidings failed to come up with a name to describe the major milestone. "No one can tell us what the 65th wedding anniversary is called," said 86-year-old Mrs Duff.

The mystery did nothing, however, to mar the day as Mrs Duff and her 90-year-old husband recalled their years together.

Married at Horden Roman Catholic Church on May 15, 1937, Mrs Duff can clearly remember the pale pink Spanish style gown she wore and is delighted she is still in close touch with her bridesmaid, Mary Galloway.

After their marriage, Mr Duff, who was a miner at Easington Colliery for 50 years, bought his new bride a home at Grants Houses.

"It cost just £250, but you have to remember I was only earning £3 a week at the time," he said.

A little over a year after they were married they had their first son, Arthur, and it was another 22 years before their second child, Barry, was born.

Summing up their marriage he said: "In the words of the old song, 'If I had my life to live over I would still do the same things again'."

On his card to his wife he touchingly wrote if he could be granted one wish it was that they would still be together to mark their platinum wedding in five years' time.