A diamond couple from Crossflatts celebrated sixty years together yesterday.

Leslie and Mildred Martin, of Cedar Street, are both originally from Bradford and met at a dance on Manchester Road, Bradford, when they were just sixteen.

They married three years later when Mr Martin got his first seven-day leave from the navy - in total he spent four years serving abroad.

The couple moved from Bradford to Keighley, where they lived on Park Lane for ten years.

"We have always moved about a bit. We came over to Keighley and I worked as a porter at Airedale Hospital for ten years or so but before that I was in engineering," explains Mr Martin.

Mrs Martin adds: "We've done a lot of work and have always been lucky to be in work.

"We moved from Keighley to Crossflatts and have been here for about 20 years."

Mr and Mrs Martin - who will both be 80 this year - have three children, Roger, Valerie and Linda, and 11 grandchildren.

While Roger lives in Southern Ireland, their two daughters live in Harden and Cross Hills and Mr and Mrs Martin enjoy regular visits.

"We're a close family and it's good we can see them so often, we've been over to Ireland a couple of times.

"We'll be having a big meal to celebrate at the weekend," says Mrs Martin.

And the secret of their long marriage? Mrs Martin says: "There have been times when I've walked out, gone round the block to clear my head and come back.

"Everyone has their ups and downs. It's sticking with each other and supporting each other."

Mr Martin says: "We've been very lucky in health and with work, it's been give and take. We look after each other and we have no secrets."

Since retiring, they enjoy going for walks together as well as reading.