LOVING couple Ted and Dorothy Yates have more reason than most to celebrate this Christmas.

Ted, aged 81, and Dorothy, aged 78, of St Dominics Mews, Morris Green, have clocked up 60 years of marriage and marked the milestone with a party at Ellesmere Road Recreation Club.

The couple, both originally from Bolton, met in 1951 at Bolton Palais de Danse and got married at St Philip’s Church of England in Bridgeman Street.

They were joined at the diamond annivesary party recently by close family and friends.

Mr Yates said: “In today’s world, it’s incredible to stay married to someone for this long.

“We get on great. Of course you have your ups and downs, but the key is to talk things over.”

Mrs Yates added: “I think it’s a wonderful achievement.Marriage is not always rosy, but you’ve got to listen to one another and get through it.”

Mr Yates worked as a bricklayer while Mrs Yates was a lifeguard at High Street Pool and Moss Street Baths.

The couple have two sons — Andrew, aged 51, and David, aged 47 — but suffered heartbreak losing two sons to cystic fibrosis.

Mrs Yates added: “We have an understanding of each other and we know that you have to take the good times with the bad. It’s worth it in the end.”

They also have four grandchildren — Adam, aged 23, Alex, aged 19, Josh, aged 13, and Thomas, aged 10.