A HURWORTH couple are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary tomorrow.

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

They lived in Darlington until 15 years ago, when they moved to Hurworth.

During the Second World War, Mrs Jefferson worked as a clerk at the railway goods yard in Middlesbrough, and her husband worked in the NAFFI.

While Mr Jefferson continued to work for the NAFFI in the buying department for 37 years, Mrs Jefferson had a fruit and vegetable shop in Northcote Terrace, Darlington, for 15 years.

Mr Jefferson has raised thousands of pounds for various charities through the poetry books he has written. The couple also make 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 is fine. That's the secret of a happy marriage," said Mr Jefferson.

"Never let an argument go from one day to the next. That's good advice,"

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