A COUPLE who celebrated their blue sapphire anniversary after 65 years of marriage said the secret of their success was hard work and helping people.

Sid and Muriel Ellis, of Darlington, married in Loftus Methodist Church on October 6, 1939.

Mr Ellis, 87, was a plumber and worked until he was 79, regularly going out in the middle of the night but not charging people for his time.

Mrs Ellis, 89, started work in domestic service and was looking after elderly people until she was 73.

They met during a family holiday at the seaside in Filey, North Yorkshire, and got talking after Mrs Ellis took a stroll down the promenade.

The couple live in Loftus, near Redcar, and moved to Darlington in 1943.

Mrs Ellis said: "It feels very nice to have reached 65 years of marriage. You have to keep pulling together."

Mr Ellis now lives at Hundens Park Nursing Home on Hundens Lane because of ill health while his wife lives in a bungalow behind it.

He said: "To stay together you have to persevere and work hard with each other."

After 65 years of marriage, the couple celebrated with their daughter Linda Maddison.

They also have two sons Arthur and David Ellis.

Mrs Maddison said: "It is amazing for a couple to stay together for 65 years.

"They had to struggle in the early years but they worked hard.

"This is wonderful for the family."