HUGH and Kay Higgins' married life started with an argument when Hugh trod on Kay's wedding dress as they walked down the aisle in St George's Cathedral, Jerusalem.

But she did not hold it against him - and 60 years on the Wichenford couple have just celebrated their diamond wedding with a trip back to the place they tied the knot.

Hugh, aged 85, and Kay, aged 87, first met at a dance at Weston-Super-Mare in 1939. But when the Second World War broke out he was sent to serve in Egypt, Jordan and Palestine as a pay clerk with the RAF.

It was four years later, in 1944, that Hugh picked up a copy of Air Force News and there was a picture of Kay on the front.

Serving in Egypt

"I didn't realise but she had been in Egypt on the House Boat Arabia serving as a WAAF flight sergeant," Hugh told the Evening News.

"So I wrote to her, we corresponded for some time, and then we arranged to meet up in Alexandria."

However, the path of true love never runs smoothly...Hugh travelled through the night across the desert to meet Kay, but the train he was on failed to stop and he ended up in Cairo.

When he did finally get to her on November 5 it proved to be love at first sight and three days later they were engaged.

Returned to UK

The couple married on January 12, 1945, before returning to the UK, where Hugh stayed in the RAF until retiring in 1965 when he got a job in a bank.

They moved to Wichenford in 1976 and have been there ever since.

Kay said the secret to their wonderful marriage is that they have always done everything together and they think as one.

"We go out and about every day and have dinner out twice a week," she added.

Hugh and Kay, who renewed their marriage vows at St George's Cathedral in Jerusalem on their golden wedding in 1985, returned last week to celebrate 60 years together, accompanied by their daughter Katie and son-in-law David, granddaughter Kelly and her husband Paul.

Hugh treated his wife to a new diamond ring and the couple also received a congratulatory card from the Queen.

"When we stop to think about it we really have had a wonderful life," they said.