FAMILY and friends are to unite to help a Bury couple toast a golden milestone.

On Saturday June 12, Harry and June Smith will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Harry said: "If I could live my life again I would still want to meet and marry June. She is a beautiful lady and we have had a great life together."

Born in Bury, Harry and June, both aged 72, met in 1951 when Harry was enjoying a party at the local Palais after being demobbed from the Royal Air Force after nearly six years service.

Two years later they became engaged and on June 12, 1954, the couple were married at St John's Church in Bury.

During their working life, Harry worked at Joseph Webb Engineering and, for 26 years until his retirement in 1994, worked as a mechanic at Harry Warburton's Coaches in Tottington. June worked for Parker's Slipper Works and retired two years ago from working part-time at a food shop in Chesham.

The couple, from Halstead Street, Chesham, have two children and three grandchildren.