DEREK NOBBS hit bullseye when he caught the eye of a young paper girl while working near her delivery round more than six decades ago.

As the farm labourer and the paper girl - 14-year-old Martha Charlton - exchanged admiring glances, little did they realise their adoration would last a lifetime.

The teenagers soon started courting and enjoyed trips to the Pavilion picture house, in Ferryhill, before marrying at St Luke's Church, in the town, on February 9, 1946.

Celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary yesterday, Martha, 77, said: "It sounds corny but he was tall, dark and had lovely dark eyes. He said he liked my eyes and it went from there."

After a year living with Martha's parents, Joseph and Annie, in Ferryhill, the couple moved to Derek's home village of Bishop Middleham where he helped his mother Mary-Jane run the local shop. When it closed he worked for Thorn's at Spennymoor, first in the lighting factory then as a security guard.

Derek, 80, is well known for his success as an amateur darts player.

The couple have two children, Audrey and Clive, along with four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Martha added: "I cannot say it has been argument free but we've always remembered the saying 'don't go to bed on a row' because life is too short."

Derek added: "She's right, we don't sleep on an argument because I know now to do as I'm told."