THEY say that love is blind - and it certainly was for a Newton Aycliffe couple who celebrated 50 years of marriage on Saturday.

Bill and June Hopper, of Walker Lane, met on a blind date in Spennymoor in 1951, when Bill turned up instead of his friend.

But half a decade later, the golden couple are still together and celebrated their anniversary with a party at Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club, attended by about 100 friends and family and the town's deputy mayor Lucy Hovvels.

Mrs Hopper, 69, a former nurse, said: "We met on a blind date. I was supposed to be going with his mate, but he turned up. I think I got the best side of the deal though.

"We just get on. We just share everything - but he knows who's the boss."

Bill, 70, who attended North Road School, in Spennymoor, and worked at Woodhead's car spring factory for almost 30 years, said: "We've had our ups and downs, but we're together. We can just sit and talk about things. But when she opens her mouth, I know it's going to cost."

The pair married at St Charles' RC Church, in Tudhoe. They have three children - David, 49, Marie, 45 and Katherine, 32.