Ref. 27068/1Fifty red roses, celebrating 50 years of marriage, left Trowbridge woman Audrey Griffiths speechless when they arrived at her door on Friday.

A present from husband John, she said: "It never entered my head that he would send me so many. These were the flowers I had in my wedding bouquet and John has never forgotten an anniversary so I suppose I should have expected it."

The couple, who live in Longfield Road, met when Audrey was out on a double date with a friend and two men from the air force.

She said: "There we were, strolling through Trowbridge, and a hand grabbed me from a shop doorway and it was John. He told me I should be out with him and not the boys from the Air Force, and that was it."

The couple were married in 1953 when Audrey was 16 and they now have four children, 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Mr Griffiths said: "Like any couple we have had our ups and downs, and I have suffered with poor health over the past few years but Audrey has always been around to keep an eye on me."

The couple celebrated with a party for 150 guests at the Longfield Community Centre on Saturday.