A COUPLE who met in a church choir more than seven decades ago are still singing from the same hymn sheet.

Alf and Edith Teeder, of Shotley Bridge, Consett, have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

The platinum celebration was marked with a third telegram from the Queen - the previous two for their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries.

They fell in love as members of the Esh Winning Baptist Church Choir and were married in the church on February 15, 1936.

Mr and Mrs Teeder celebrated with family and friends in the hall at Blackhill Baptist Church, on Saturday.

Their daughter, Anne Hall, a retired nurse, said: "They feel that it is wonderful to have reached this stage and be able to have a family get-together.

"It is a real achievement, and we are all thrilled. They have shown total commitment to each other."

After a short period in Hull following their marriage, they returned to Consett, where Mr Teeder worked for many years as a crane driver at Consett Steel Works. The 95-year-old came from the former village of Hamsteels, which was near Esh Winning.

He was well known as a cornet player with a number of brass bands, and a Baptist preacher.

Mrs Teeder, 91, came from Waterhouses, and was a seamstress. Before her marriage, she was in domestic service in Bury, the Deanery in York and Swanland near Hull.

The couple have four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.