Poetry and a rendition of the song How Great Thou Art were just some of the tributes paid to an Oakworth couple who celebrated 60 years of marriage last weekend.

Harry and Nellie Little, of Pickles Hill, met 65 years ago while hay making.

Harry says: "Nellie was such a good hay maker I thought she would make a really good farmer's wife."

Harry, 85, went to Stanbury School and started work at Moor Lodge farm when he was 14. He earned five shillings a week and worked seven days a week.

He bought Hill Top Farm in 1941, later moving to neighbouring farms Highfield and Moorcock, and farming them together until he retired in 1973. The couple still kept a dozen sheep on a smallholding near their home until last month.

Nellie, 82, attended Oldfield School and worked at Ponden Mills for 28 years from the age of 14.

The pair were married at Christ Church, Oakworth, by the Rev Harwood.

Harry said the secret to a happy marriage was always agreeing with your wife.

He said whenever the couple argue he says to Nellie: "Do as you like. Have it your own way."

Harry and Nellie held a party to celebrate their diamond wedding.

Singer Anne Jackson of Settle performed a selection of the couple's favourite songs and friend Alistair Wilkinson wrote a poem about the couple.

They asked for the 57 guests to donate money instead of presents and raised £600 for the Airedale Hospital cancer support group.

Nellie wanted to help the cause because when she suffered from breast cancer 15 years ago she was a patient at Airedale Hospital.

She has donated money to the unit every Christmas since then.