A COUPLE who met and wed during the dark days of the Second World War have celebrated 70 years of happy marriage.

Alan and Jean Ferry met at a church dance whilst he was serving in the Royal Navy and was based overseas - in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

They were married in 1944 at Jean’s local church in Christchurch, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

After the war came to an end they left Canada and travelled to England, settling at first in Northumberland where Alan’s family lived.

The couple later moved to Northallerton where they have now lived for 50 years following Alan’s promotion with Lloyds Bank – he retired in 1983 as bank manager.

The couple have two children, one grandson and two great grandsons and celebrated their anniversary with a family meal and trip to Whitby.

The vice-chairman of Hambleton District Council, Cllr Stephen Dickins, together with his wife Margaret, presented them with a basket of flowers on behalf of the authority.