Air Ministry office girl Muriel Allen was more than interested when she and a girlfriend bumped into dashing Liverpudlian airman Les Felton and a friend on a night out in Worcester during the Second World War.

Even when Les and his friend told the girls they were married, the foursome enjoyed an evening together.

"But when I went back to work I looked up Les's records and found he was single," she said.

"I went looking for him the following week and I challenged him. He had to admit it, and things just went from there."

The couple were eventually married at St George's Church, Worcester on September 15, 1945 and are now celebrating their diamond wedding.

"We've had a very happy life together," said Muriel. "That was the only fib he ever told me."

Muriel was pregnant with her second son when the couple were given a prefab in Pershore where they have lived ever since.

Les, who was demobbed two months after the wedding from RAF Defford, where he had worked as a fitter, had a variety of jobs including working as a Midland Red driver.

He returned to the RAF as a civilian, again as a fitter, and after leaving the second time worked as a long distance lorry driver.

And the secret of a happy marriage? Muriel was in no doubt: "It's give and take," she said.

The couple have two sons, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.