A DARLINGTON couple are using their golden wedding this week to help the town's Talking Newspaper.

Bernard Hoare, 83, who is blind, and wife Annie, 93, have asked friends to give to the charity instead of buying them gifts.

The couple, who married at Holy Trinity Church in Woodland Road, celebrated dinner at Blackwell Grange with more than 30 pals.

Mr Hoare, a retired steelworker, said: "We don't need anything as we have been married for 50 years. I can't read now but I love the news, so raising money for the Talking Newspaper seemed a good idea."