A FORMER mayor and mayoress of Great Aycliffe have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary

John and Hilda Fleming marked 50 years of marriage with a family party in Newton Aycliffe on Saturday.

The couple were married at St Stephen's Church, Wolsingham on March 24, 1951.

Their married life started in Frosterley, where they were also involved in running the Wolsingham Scout troop for 15 years.

They moved to Newton Aycliffe in 1962 with their two children, Dorothy and Derek.

Mr Fleming worked at Abex Engineering, making tyre moulds, and his wife at GEC, and later at British Steel.

Mr Fleming was a councillor for 16 years, serving on both Great Aycliffe Town Council and Sedgefield District Council.

The couple, who have four grandchildren, represented Great Aycliffe as mayor and mayoress in 1993-94.

The present Mayor of Great Aycliffe, Councillor Lyn Leach, presented Mr and Mrs Fleming with a bouquet to mark their wedding anniversary on Saturday.

They later joined family and friends at the Royal British Legion Club in Newton Aycliffe for a party.