A LONG-SERVING lollipop lady is preparing to celebrate 40 years of marriage this weekend.

Eileen Plant, 65, from Hurworth, near Darlington, has helped children to cross the road to Hurworth Primary School for more than 20 years.

She and husband Ken, a caretaker at the school, will celebrate with family and friends - including one of her bridesmaids.

The pair met when they were both at a Territorial Army Camp in Scotland. They married in Middlesbrough, at St Thomas' Church, and settled in Darlington, Ken's home town.

Ken worked as an engineer for Cummins for many years.

Meanwhile, Eileen worked as a part-time cleaner at the school and took care of their two children, Andrew, now 36, and Debra, 33. They have one grandchild, 16-month-old Hannah Rose.

Eileen said: "Ken is such a wonderful man and I wouldn't be without him. We have always stood by each other."

Eileen hit the headlines 12 years ago when she underwent a quadruple heart bypass and fought her way back to health by climbing Helvellyn and four mountains in Switzerland.