A HUGE family reunion was held for a special couple celebrating 50 years of marriage.

Jean and Austen Reeves tied the knot on October 21, 1950, at St John's Church in Sparkhill, Birmingham.

Although the couple met at a roller-skating rink in Birmingham, the exact details of that fateful first encounter have faded into the mists of time, according to Jean.

The couple moved to Redditch 22 years ago and have two daughters and three grandsons.

Jean, 71, used to be a hairdresser, while Austen, 73, worked as an engineer in Sparkhill before becoming a security officer at Halfords.

On Saturday, October 21, the rest of their family travelled from as far afield as Germany and Canada for the celebrations in Mappleborough Green Village Hall, the first time the whole family had been together in about 30 years.

Jean said: "There's been good and bad times but on the whole I think we've done very well.

"And of course we've got a wonderful family, which helps."