It was love at first sight when Alan Stubbs saw future wife Monica Broome across a crowded dance floor in 1942, there was just one thing in the way he couldn't dance.

Mr and Mrs Stubbs got over this hurdle though, and the couple celebrated 60 years together at their diamond wedding party at St James's Church Hall, Trowbridge on March 18. Mr Stubbs, 83, of Windermere Road, Trowbridge, said: "Ours is a real love story.

"People said it would never last as I went off to the war and we didn't see each other for two years." The couple wrote regularly over that time and were married on March 16 1946 at St James's Church, Teignmouth.

They celebrated their anniversary with 60 friends and family, including their two bridesmaids one of whom travelled from Seattle. The couple have three children, Ian, 59, Andrew, 56, and Martin, 49.

Mr Stubbs said: "The secret to a long a happy marriage is love first and foremost. "Then after that it's caring and sharing. "We have always shared everything from the moment we were married even if we only had £1 it would be 50 pence each."