AS British troops landed on French beaches on D-Day, Joan Hepburn received a telegram from fiance Jack Stannard saying simply, "Arrange wedding".

He sent it from Liverpool as his troopship arrived from Egypt - and after a great rush they were married 11 days later.

That wartime era will be recalled today when the couple celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary at their home in Marwood Drive, Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Mr Stannard, 83, a retired shop manager, said: "The date June 6, 1944, is special to most people because of the D-Day landings, but it is more special to Joan and me because of that short telegram."

Mrs Stannard, who was working in a hospital and staying at her mother's home in Sunderland, hurried to get a special licence, organising the ceremony, collecting clothing coupons for her wedding outfit and gathering food coupons for the reception.

The couple had not seen each other for more than three years as Mr Stannard was away all that time as a leading aircraftman in the RAF Regiment, helping to defend an airport near Cairo.

Mrs Stannard, 82, said: "I was listening to news of the landings in Normandy when the telegram came - it was a complete surprise as Jack was not allowed to write to me - saying he was sailing home."

She bought a turquoise dress for the ceremony, at Grange Congregational Church, in Sunderland. Relatives helped prepare food for the reception in her mother's house.

The couple had a brief honeymoon at a friend's house in Aberdeen. Mr Stannard then transferred to the Royal Signals, and after wireless training he returned to Egypt for another year.

Helping Mr and Mrs Stannard to celebrate their diamond celebrations will be sons Alan and Philip, daughter Daphne, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.