THEY say diamonds are forever.

And that is certainly the case when it comes to Wilfred and Kathleen Stewart from Croft.

The pair wed at the end of the Second World War, when Mr Stewart returned from armed service in India in 1947.

A member of the Royal Artillery, he didn't come home empty-handed, bringing back fine Indian silk for his bride-to-be's wedding dress.

The 84-year-old said: "I was determined to marry her.

"She was my only love and I knew as soon as I met her. She was lovely."

After the war Mrs Stewart ran a convenience store in Longford Street called Kath Stewart's.

Mr Stewart became a self-employed builder and, in his spare time, taught himself to play the organ and read music, while Mrs Stewart was a soloist and sang Ave Maria at weddings, mainly at St Benedict's Church where she was a member of the choir.

Sixty years later and Mrs Stewart, aged 83, has moved into Callands Court Nursing Home.

But their bond is still just as strong.

Daughter, Lesley, said: "They have just come back from a special holiday in Southport called Sand Pipers for people with dementia.

"They went supported by Warrington, Birchwood and Culcheth Lions and we had a party at the nursing home with family and friends and all the residents at the Grasmere Unit to celebrate their anniversary.

Dad said he'd marry her again tomorrow - It seems like just yesterday'."