KIDDERMINSTER'S former police chief superintendent and his wife are celebrating their golden wedding, having been childhood sweethearts.

Malcolm and Eileen Cummings, a former nurse, married on June 23, 1956 after first meeting when they were aged just seven and five, respectively.

Despite losing touch when Mr Cummings, now 72, did national service in Egypt, where he was a military policeman at Suez, they became engaged within three months of re-establishing contact soon after.

They live in Galahad Way, Stourport, but originally met when they lived in Worcester. Mr Cummings was born in Wales but moved to the city, where Eileen, 70, was born.

The couple have twin sons, Andrew and Philip, two step-grandchildren and two step great grandchildren.

Following his national service, Mr Cummings joined Worcester City Police in 1954 and progressed from the beat, through CID to uniformed inspector rank.

After serving in Evesham and Shrewsbury, he became chief inspector at Kidderminster in 1980, holding the post until he retired in 1987.

Mrs Cummings trained as a nurse at the former Worcester Royal Infirmary before becoming a nursing sister at the former Worcester Eye Hospital. She continued to work in care homes until retiring six months ago.

Recalling their earliest meetings, Mr Cummings said: "We became childhood sweethearts," adding: "We decided, when we were a little boy and a little girl, we would be married.

"We couldn't have imagined we would be coming up to our 50th wedding anniversary."

The couple plan to celebrate with a family party at Wharton Park Golf Club in Bewdley.