A COUPLE who met on a blind date are still "as much in love" 70 years later.

Peggy and John Beech, of Fernhill Heath in Worcester, are celebrating their platinum wedding anniversary on Sunday, after first meeting in April 1940.

The couple accompanied friends on a blind date where they went on a bike ride at Perdiswell aerodrome, before taking a trip to the Scala theatre together.

Mr Beech, now aged 91, said it must have been "love at first sight".

"We both made a good first impression on each other because we decided to meet up again, and it went from there really," he said.

"In 1944 we married in St Nicholas' Church in Worcester and we had our reception at the Pack Horse pub. I remember being in the street after we had just been married and a convoy of American troops were passing by, and they whistled and jeered. We spent our honeymoon in Cheltenham because all of the seaside locations had been closed off due to the war," Mr Beech added.

A separation followed while Mr Beech, who was a pilot in the Royal Air Force, served in the Middle East and Burma, but the couple went on to have three children — Susan, Gillian and Richard — as well as seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mrs Beech, now aged 89, said the secret to 70 years of marriage is simply "love".

"Of course, you need love, and you also need plenty of tolerance. But having things in common helps and be able to have a laugh together is very important too. We still keep busy now — I take a painting course and cook, knit and sew and John bakes bread and makes marmalade."

The couple will celebrate the milestone with family in Oxford on Saturday.