A couple whose romance blossomed at a holiday camp celebrate their golden wedding anniversary today.

Freda and Denis Pickering will toast 50 years of happy marriage at their home in Merlin Court, Keighley.

The couple met in 1950 whilst on holiday at Butlins in Filey, and it wasn't just themselves who hit it off.

Freda, 69, says: "A group of six of us who were at school together went on the holiday and two of the girls were married the following year, and another the year after to men they had met at Butlins.

"I went with my cousin in 1952 and she also found her future husband there. It became a joke that if you wanted a husband you should go to Butlins."

After their holiday romance Freda, from Worth Village in Keighley, and Denis, from Sheffield, continued to keep in touch with each other.

The couple were married at the Holy Trinity Church in Lawkholme and went to Skegness for their honeymoon.

"When we were coming out of the church there was a freak snowstorm," Freda recalls. "On the photographs it looks like confetti, but in actual fact it was snowflakes."

Denis, 76, worked in the packing and distribution departments of Botony Mill and Emu Wool before going to work in testing and inspection at WASK RMF, from where he retired after 15 years of service.

Freda also worked at Craven's mill in Dalton Lane for 15 years.

The couple have six children called Ray, Kathryn, Elaine, Sharon, James and Julie, 14 grand children and one great grandchild.

Denis says: "We are a very closely knit family and if one thing happens the others are always there to help."

Freda adds: "When you have children you must be responsible for them and we have always had one another to cope with anything that comes along. We wouldn't be without any of our children or grandchildren."

Denis enjoys playing snooker while Freda enjoys handicrafts, baking and keeping tropical fish.