ROMANCE blossomed on a BSA motorbike for John and Ruby Dixon.

Since then, they have rarely been apart - and tomorrow they will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary with a family party at their home in Rookhope, Weardale.

John, 88, first met Ruby, 84, at the "threepenny hops" which were held in the village hall on Wednesday nights in the early 1930s.

They started courting after he called at the village bakery and garage, where she worked as an assistant, to fill up the BSA overhead valve 249 motorbike, which was his pride and joy.

"We spent a lot of time going out on that motorbike. I paid £49 19s 6d. It was a lovely bike," said Mr Dixon, a retired stonemason.

But, after they got married in 1937, he was forced to sell it.

"We never managed to get away on honeymoon," said Mrs Dixon. "In fact, we have never travelled far away from Rookhope. We did manage to get to the Lake District for holidays when our son had a caravan there."

These days, Mr Dixon is content pottering about in his garden, while Mrs Dixon likes to join in village activities. They have a son and daughter, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

They attribute their long marriage to the peace of village life and being well suited to each other.