CHAMPAGNE corks were flying at a care home in celebration of a resident’s golden wedding anniversary.

Dennis Fullerton and his wife, Margaret, were surprised by staff when they returned from an anniversary lunch to banners and flowers.

Staff at Pelton Grange Care Home, in Chester-le-Street, also presented Mrs Fullerton with a bouquet of flowers and Mr Fullerton with a bottle of whisky, before offering the happy couple glasses of bubbly to toast their 50 years together.

The pair married in September 1968 at Byermoor, near Stanley, spending their wedding night in London and honeymoon in Austria.

Mr Fullerton was a uniform inspector for the Northumbria Police, before retiring and eventually moving into Pelton Grange Care Home in March 2017.

Chris Hogan-Hind, manager of the care home, which is part of the Hill Care Group, said: “50 years of marriage is an amazing milestone, so we decided to throw a little surprise to mark the special occasion.

“Dennis and Margaret are such a lovely couple and we were delighted to see them toast their special day with a glass of bubbly.”