Leslie and Elizabeth Shoulder celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss this weekend by dancing the night away surrounded by family and friends.

About 100 guests gathered at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Saturday to toast the couple at their golden wedding anniversary party.

Mr and Mrs Shoulder, from Hardisty Crescent, Bishop Auckland, were married 50 years ago, at St Wilfrid's Church, in the town, after a two-year-courtship.

Love blossomed for the pair when Mrs Shoulder helped her aunt with half-time refreshments for her future husband's football team in Newton Aycliffe.

They have two children, Geraldine and Michael, and two grandchildren, Liam and Emma.

Mrs Shoulder, 72, said: "We have had our ups and downs but we have always pulled together. We have never gone to bed on an argument.''

Mr Shoulder, 74, a former bus inspector for United, said that his most treasured memories were the birth of his grandchildren.

He said: "That's our life - our family. We have had a good life together."