A COUPLE have celebrated 70 years of marriage after first meeting as teenagers at church.

Ena and Dennis Evans, of Woodbridge Close in Worcester, reached the milestone on Thursday, April 19 – more than half a century after tying the knot.

The pair, who have four children, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren, are set to celebrate their anniversary at the Angel Inn and Number 8 arts centre in Pershore this Sunday.

Daughter Janet Simpson, aged 67, said: "They are lovely. They have got a lot of interests in common."

She said her mother credited "a loving relationship" as the key to their long-lasting marriage.

The duo first met at Bromyard Road Methodist Church, in Worcester, when they were teenagers and were married in 1947 at the church in Pump Street.

Mr Evans, who is now aged 93, served in the RAF while Mrs Evans, who is 92, was a GPO telephonist for the Post Office during World War Two.

After the war, Mr Evans worked for Metal Box as an engineer and the family later moved to the Dundee area of Scotland – moving back to Worcester in 1976.

They have led an active life in the community and were founding members of the Association of Retired Persons and Over 55s club – now the North Worcester Friendship Group.

Mrs Evans is an artist and is also a former violinist with the Worcestershire Philharmonic Orchestra, which she rejoined aged 60.

Meanwhile, her husband was a keen bowler and played at Barbourne Bowling Club.

They are both enthusiastic about the arts and supported Number 8 Community Arts Centre during its early days.

Their four children are Janet Simpson, John Evans, Judith Flavel and Sheila Joynes.