A COUPLE say "sharing a lot of laughs" is the secret to staying together for 50 years.

Chris and Margaret Grant, from Scorton, near Richmond, will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary on Friday.

The couple first met when Mrs Grant, 70, moved to the village with her parents.

Mr Grant, 76, who was evacuated from Gateshead during the war, worked for a local farmer.

Love blossomed several year later when Mr Grant returned after three years' service with the RAF.

He said: "I said to her 'I'll see you at Richmond registry office in two weeks' - and she turned up."

Mrs Grant added: "We work as a team - it's always been teamwork. And if we had an argument, we make sure it's over that day. We never let it carry on.

"We've always had a lot of laughs and we've done things together."

The couple enjoy gardening and keeping livestock.

They have three sons, one daughter, six granddaughters and another grandchild on the way. Their first great-grandchild is also expected shortly.

The couple's daughter, Margaret, 44, said: "Their parenting has been second to none and they've always been there for us."

The couple will celebrate on Saturday with family and friends at the village institute.

Instead of presents, they have asked for donations to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Mr Grant said: "When you've been married for 50 years, you've got everything you want."