A Richmond man and his wife celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary yesterday.

Bill Jefferson and his wife Freda, both 81, met through a relative in 1939 and were married at Holy Trinity Church, Darlington, in 1942.

Before their wedding, Mr Jefferson lived in Richmond, where he worked in the council offices but, once married, he moved to his wife's home town of Darlington.

Mr Jefferson worked for the NAFFI in the buying department for 37 years while Mrs Jefferson had a fruit and vegetable shop in Northcote Terrace, Darlington, for 16 years.

Over the years, Mr Jefferson has raised thousands of pounds for various charities through the poetry books he has written and the couple are also well-known for making their own Christmas cards.

They put their happy 60 years of marriage down to never sleeping on an argument.

"It's a simple matter in that, if you have an argument or there is any falling out at all, you settle it before you go to bed, and if you do that the next morning everything in fine. That's the secret of a happy marriage," said Mr Jefferson.

The couple celebrated their anniversary with their son, daughter and six grandchildren.