THE secret of a happy marriage is pulling together through the hard times, according to a Stourport couple who celebrate their diamond wedding today.

Bill, 81 and Mary McCarter, 79, of Barnfield Road, met on a bus from Kidderminster to Stourport and have been inseparable ever since.

They were married at St Michael's Church, now St Michael's and All Angels Church, in 1948 and went on to have two daughters, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mr McCarter, who hails from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, moved to Stourport, aged 18, to find work and was employed as a chain welder for Parsons Chain, where he stayed until retirement.

Mrs McCarter said: "We first met when my husband came over from Ireland. I was on my way home with a friend. Bill was already on the bus with his friend. They both gave up their seats for us, we got talking and they invited us on a date.

"We kept the date and continued to go out together for a while.

"Eventually, the four of us split up but Bill and I continued to stay in touch."

Before retiring, Mrs McCarter worked as a carpet weaver and a dinner lady at the former Windmill School, now St Bartholomew's C of E Primary School, in Stourport.

She added: "We have had many ups and downs as a family but we have always managed to pull through it together, that's the secret to a happy marriage. We have had a lot of heartbreak but we have always got through it.

"Our rock is our daughter, Maureen and her husband, Andy. They have been very good to us. Our Jack Russell, Toby, is also great company."

Mrs McCarter went on: "Sixty years is a long time to be married.

"I think our marriage has lasted because we always pull together and talk things through."