A COUPLE who married on Valentine's Day are celebrating their golden anniversary.

Keith and Eileen Leonard, 71 and 70 respectively, who live in Darlington first made headlines in the Northern Echo in 1970, as the sailor and chemist shop assistant who were 'spliced for life' on the most romantic day of the year.

They married at St George's Church in Darlington, but whilst love may was in the air so was snow, which caused nearly left the groom most defiantly not at the church on time.

"At the time I lived in Sadberge, and that morning the snow meant that my usher, my best man and I were forced to push the car up the hill, which wasn't what I was expecting to do the morning of my wedding," said Keith. "But I made it there in the end which was what mattered."

The couple first met in June 1966, but it was four years later before they were finally able to call each other husband and wife due to Keith's being stationed abroad for months in his role as a seaman in the navy.

"We knew that we wanted to spend some time together as a married couple before Keith went away again, which meant that we were limited for choice of wedding dates," said Eileen. "It turned out to be especially romantic though."

The couple first met at a event the newly opened youth centre in Sadberge in a moment which, for Keith, could only be described as love at first sight.

"My favourite story is of how we met.

"I can honestly say that since the moment that I laid eyes on her that night across the room, I haven't looked at anyone else," said Keith.

"That night I was desperate to speak to Eileen, but because she knew everyone in the room, she was chatting away with other people and I couldn't find the right time to go over and introduce myself.

"Eventually, we were all walking back into the village together, and Eileen was about to catch her bus back to Darlington with a friend.

"I knew that if I didn't make a move then I wouldn't see her for nearly a year because I was due to go to Portsmouth with the navy."

In a last ditch attempt to get Eileen's attention, Keith got creative in his surroundings.

"I'm not sure entirely why I did it, but I spotted a dead bird while we were walking, so I picked it up and chased her with down the road," said Keith. " It wasn't conventional, but it worked."

The couple now have three children and five grandchildren, which they adore spending time with.

When asked what the secret to a long and happy marriage was, Eileen divulged that for her it was mostly love and trust, "but he was also away a lot", she joked.

"We've lasted so long because we still enjoy each others company everyday. Whenever we can we jump in the car to Redcar and take a walk along the coast before stopping somewhere for a cuppa."