A GORNAL couple are set celebrate 70 years of marriage- and credit their long-lasting nuptials to "sharing, good food and love".

Vera Joan Westwood, known as Joan, and John Westwood, known as Jack, will mark their platinum wedding anniversary today (July 14).

The couple, aged 91 and 92-years-old respectively, have lived in Gornal all their lives.

Jack said he couldn’t take his eyes off Joan and he knew immediately that she was the one for him when the pair first met at the former cinema on Red Hall Road, known as 'The Bump'.

The couple married at St James The Great in Gornal on July 1950 joined by 20 guests, before enjoying their honeymoon in Torquay.

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They have a son, called Phillip, who along with his wife Carol, had a house built in their Gornal garden so they could be close to Joan and Jack as they grew older.

They also have two grand daughters, named Gemma and Hayley, along with two great-grand daughters.

Jack worked as as a lorry driver and Joan was a security officer for the Concord Markets in Sedgley and Brierley Hill, before the pair retired to enjoy family time and holidays.

The pair enjoyed sequence dancing and Jack was a keen gardener and crown green bowler.

When asked the secret to a long and happy marriage, Joan said the success of their marriage was down to "sharing, good food and love" and Jack said "pulling together" was key.

Their family will be holding a social distanced garden party with afternoon tea on Saturday, July 18 to celebrate the milestone anniversary.