AS NATIONAL Marriage Week gets under way, two couples have celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss.

A night out at the cinema has led to a long and happy marriage for Harry Stoker, 73, and his wife Edna, 70.

Mrs Stoker was the usherette at the picture house in Willington when Mr Stoker met her.

He waited outside for her and offered to walk her home. They have been together ever since.

Mrs Stoker said: "We saw each other every day after that.''

They enjoyed a quiet wedding at Bishop Auckland Register Office on February 9, 1952, with two friends as witnesses.

They lived in Willington for most of their married life and spent time as steward and stewardess at Spennymoor Working Men's Club.

The couple now live in Gent Street, Bishop Auckland.

They have five children, Christina, Lesley, Yvonne, Alan and Ian, ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mary and George Wright, of College Street, Shildon, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Saturday.

They met while they both worked at Shildon Shops, the town's railway works.

The couple had to have special permission to go ahead with their marriage, because it took place days after the death of the King.

Mrs Wright, 73, said: "We weren't sure whether they would let us go ahead because the King was lying in state, but because it had already been arranged we were allowed to marry.''

The couple married at St Thomas's RC Church, Shildon, and have lived in the town all their married lives.

They have three children, Pauline, Harry, and Kathleen, and six grandchildren.

They celebrated their anniversary with a family meal