SMITTEN from the moment their eyes first met, Elsie and Harry Finch's romance was truly a match made in heaven.

The couple, of Fitzwalter Road, Woolston, met when Mr Finch's friend asked if he could bring along his girlfriend and her friend, Elsie, to the christening of Mr Finch's nephew.

They hit it off immediately and met up the following day.

Mrs Finch, aged 82, said: "He was very good looking, the image of a young Mickey Rooney and I could tell he was a good man. He's still good looking now."

The couple courted for three years before marrying 60 years ago, on Mr Finch's 23rd birthday, at St Ann's Church on Winwick Road.

They went on to have three sons and two daughters and now have 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren as well.

The family celebrated their diamond-wedding anniversary with a big party at Woolston British Legion at the weekend.

Mr Finch said: "I thought she was lovely from the moment I met her - good looking with a nice way about her - and I still do to this day. We're probably more in love than we've ever been.

"She's wonderful."

The couple share a love of music - he for singing and she for dancing, but say that it doesn't matter what they do as they are just happy being together.

Asked about the secret of a long and happy marriage, Mr Finch said: "Pulling together and listening to each other is very important.

"You've got to sort out any problems together, not that we've had many. We've been very fortunate because we're surrounded by a great family."