A WARTIME dance to lift the spirits led to 60 years of happy marriage for a South Cheshire couple.

Harold and Olive Whitfield, of Scott Avenue, Crewe, met during the Second World War at a dance at Crewe Town Hall.

Six decades later the couple are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary and have received a letter from the Queen.

Olive, 79, who was working at Rolls-Royce when she first met Harold in 1941, said: 'In those days the men would stand at one side of the room and the woman at the other. Harold came over and asked me to dance and I gladly accepted.'

Harold, 83, a former chief foreman at Crewe Works, said: 'That night I walked her home and we shared our first kiss at the top of her garden gate. We have never looked back since and I knew then we would be together forever.'

Three years later, on August 7, 1944, they married at St Paul's Church in Hightown, Crewe.

Three children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren later, the marriage is still going strong. The couple celebrated the anniversary with close family and friends at Rookery Hall, Worleston.

They put the success of their marriage down to a love and trust of each other and are both eagerly looking forward to the future.

Harold said: 'We have a dedication and responsibility not only to ourselves but also our family.'