IT WAS a big day for a Sale couple on Sunday when they celebrated 70 years of wedded bliss.

Alfred and Mary Wright have lived in the town since they were married in 1931 and Alfred, now 97, still lives in their original home.

Mary, 94, now lives in the Waverley Private Nursing Home on Wardle Road and both enjoyed a quiet celebration for their anniversary.

The pair met in 1923 and were married just eight years later at St. Paul's Church before moving into their present home in 1936.

Alfred tells SAM: "I used to live on Marsland Road where the family business was based.

"We ran three farms and dealt in hay and straw before my father, Alderman William Henry Wright became Mayor of Sale in the late thirties.

"I myself worked as a milkman for around 35 years while Mary was involved with a variety of things at the St. Paul's church where we are congregation members - including the organisation of the Mothers Union and flower arranging."

The couple have two children, Barbara who lives in Northwich, and Margaret, who now lives in Cornwall and both were in town to celebrate the platinum anniversary.

They also have 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren and Alfred says that they have been very lucky.

He says: "There is no secret to a long marriage really - we were just very lucky to find each other all those years ago."