LEN and Doris Bowden met as teenagers at a youth club in Kilburn Lane in London and within three years they were happily married.

Now, they are celebrating 50 years of marriage in a small family get-together in Haydon Wick. Len was 15 and Doris 16 when they were regular attendees of the club, which offered a place to enjoy activities like ballroom dancing and martial arts.

The couple courted for three years and finally got married in St Martins Church in West London.

Mrs Bowden said: "It was a lovely wedding, and we had quite a large congregation, but unfortunately we couldn't go on honeymoon we simply couldn't afford it."

The couple moved to Swindon in 1962 following the rest of Doris's family from London.

While in London, Len was a firefighter and had been hoping for a transfer to Swindon but none were available.

He became a milkman and later a tanker driver for Co-op dairies.

He also completed two years' National Service with the Essex regiment between 1953 and 1955.

Now retired, the couple regularly travel away with their caravan and enjoy the company of their four children and eight grandchildren.

Mr Bowden said: "I am very proud of my long marriage. I think the secret is a lot of give and take and a good sense of humour."