A FERRYHILL couple have celebrated half a century of married life.

Richard and Sylvia Tonge were married at St Aidan's Church, Chilton, on March 22, 1952.

Mr Tonge, 77, was a miner from the age of 14 and spent 31 years in the collieries at Mainsforth, Ferryhill, and at Vane Tempest in Seaham.

He was an active member of the Mines Rescue Brigade and has a full set of medals for his length of service and dedication to duty.

In later years he worked at Courtaulds and Watson Carriers in Spennymoor.

Mrs Tonge, 72, worked at Smart and Brown Engineering in Spennymoor and had also been an usherette at the Pavilion Cinema in Ferryhill before her marriage.

She played badminton into her late 50s, representing Chilton, West Cornforth, Stockton and Spennymoor clubs.

The couple have two sons, Malcolm and Trevor. A third son, Kevin, was born in 1957 but died as a baby.

They also have five grandchildren - Katie and Sarah are students, Bethany and Alex attend Bishop Middleham Primary School and Simon attends Dean Road Nursery, in Ferryhill.

Mr Tonge, who has bought The Northern Echo from the same newsagent in Ferryhill for 50 years, said the secret of a happy marriage was "pulling together".