A COUPLE separated by the war just days after they tied the knot have celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Arthur and Kathleen Lea, of Manfield, spent yesterday celebrating their big day with friends and family with a party held at Walworth Castle, near Darlington.

The couple, both aged 81, are looking forward to a cruise around the Mediterranean on the luxury liner the Oriana to mark their anniversary.

Mr Lea, originally from Manchester, met his wife in 1940 when he was posted to Darlington on training with the Territorial Army, and the couple soon hit it off.

They married in St Matthew's Church, Darlington, a few months later, but Arthur was posted to West Africa with the Royal Engineers during the war, and spent three-and-a-half years abroad, in South Africa, Egypt and India.

During the war, Mrs Lea worked in a munitions factory in Newton Aycliffe and the couple set up home in Darlington when Mr Lea left the Army in 1946.

For most of his life he worked as an accountant in Darlington, for Darchem, John Neasham's and Henry Williams, and retired in 1986.

Mrs Lea worked as a hairdresser after the war and the couple have one daughter, Jane, and three grandchildren.

Mr Lea said: "It was tough for us when I was away for so long, so soon after getting married, but then everyone was in the same boat and you just got on with it.

"Thankfully I came back to see my wife, but a lot of them didn't, so we can hardly complain.

"We can't wait to go on our cruise round the Mediterranean, it should be the trip of a lifetime."