A COUPLE celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with the help of the Mayor of Ferryhill, despite one of the couple being admitted to hospital.

Arthur and Edna Gibson celebrated their blue sapphire anniversary on Wednesday, April 12, but only days before, Mrs Gibson was admitted to hospital.

A family party was rearranged and held at Bishop Auckland General Hospital instead, where Councillor Julie Bainbridge made a presentation to mark the occasion. The Mayor joined relatives to present a pair of champagne flutes and a bouquet to the couple on behalf of Ferryhill Town Council.

The couple have lived in Ferryhill all their lives. Mr Gibson was a miner at Dean and Chapter until 1963, when he went to work at Underground Mining Machinery at Newton Aycliffe.

The couple married on Easter Saturday in 1941 and have two children, Marjorie and Malcolm, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with another on the way.