FED up of passing like ships in the night, a husband and wife have packed in their jobs as nurse and tour bus driver to take over a pub.

Bob Wilson has spent the last 30 years working away from home as a long distance driver, during which time he saw wife Audrey only sporadically.

So they decided enough was enough, and are now the new faces behind the bar of The Brown Trout in Sunnybrow, Willington. Mr Wilson said: "I used to go away in March and come back November.

"I used to see her every other Saturday night, then I would be away again on Sunday.

"She would also do night shifts, so we would just never see each other."

In the last month the couple, who have moved from Hetton-le-Hole, have overseen a refit, brought in a chef and are settling into their new home.

Mr Wilson said: "We are really enjoying it, but I must admit we were a bit worried at first about the prospect of running a pub. She was shaking like a leaf when she pulled her first pint."