SIXTY-five years of marriage are being celebrated by a York couple who first met at a friend's 21st birthday party, and married in Fulford Parish Church.

Audrey and Alan Thornton, of Heslington Lane, both worked in the War Office in the younger days, but went on to run a milk round on the Holly Bank estate, and a frozen food shop and laundrette in Fulford.

The couple, who have four children, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren Maya and Sam aged 10 and 12, mark 65 years of marriage today and are looking forward to celebrating with their family.

Mrs Thornton said the secret to their long happy marriage lay in "not wanting the moon."

"In our day we didn't have lots of money. I think we had to borrow the money to go on our honeymoon.

"We have been very lucky and we have worked all our lives. We are just simple happy people, and that's a wonderful thing to be able to say."