HE SPOTTED her at the fish and chip shop and thus began 60 years of marriage.

George and Mabel Watts, will celebrate their diamond wedding tomorrow after meeting in Jennings Street in Rodbourne.

George, 81, who was 17 when he met Mabel, now 78, recalled: "I saw her crossing the road to the chip shop and I thought she looked nice.

"But in those days you didn't approach ladies so I asked some of the girls in my group of friends if they knew who she was. I asked them to arrange a date for us.

"We courted for a year or so and then got married and have been happy ever since."

They married at St Augustine's Church in the first ever double wedding at the church. George said: "The other couple was Mabel's brother and his fiance.

"We had arranged our marriage already and then one day they asked us if they could join us in a double wedding. It went very well."

George said that 60 years later the foundations of their marriage are still strong.

"We still enjoy one another's company, love one another and look after each other."

Before retiring, George was an engine driver and Mabel worked at Wills tobacco company.

The couple, who still live in Rodbourne, have four children, 10 grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

They will celebrate with family and friends.