A COUPLE'S 50th anniversary celebrations provided a tonic for patients of a South Durham doctors' practice.

All the friends and relations who shared Betty and Fred Stocker's golden day at the weekend were asked not to buy gifts, but to contribute to a Spennymoor surgery's equipment fund.

Betty and Fred welcomed a stream of visitors to their home in Bamburgh Parade, Spennymoor, on Saturday, and later enjoyed a party at the Combined Services Club.

With them were their son Frank, their eldest daughter Christine Hume, and twins Hilary Moses and Joyce Dunn, together with their families.

The couple were married in the Holy Innocents Church, at Low Spennymoor, after meeting on a works outing.

Fred, now 77, had been transferred north from Woolwich to work for Siemens. He later worked at GEC, retirin in 1986.

Betty, 72, went back to work when the twins were five, and spent nearly 20 years in the benefits office in Barnfield Road.

Now they both enjoy seeing the country by taking frequent day trips.

Betty said: "We have everything we want so we don't need presents.

"We asked for money for the equipment fund at Dr Woods' practice where everybody had been good to us."