A BESOTTED couple who married in Cradley Heath days before the groom joined the army in 1956 have just celebrated their diamond anniversary.

Bill and Shirley Adams met on the dancefloor of Stourbridge Town Hall and love blossomed quickly before they got hitched at Cradley Heath's Mission Hall.

Sixty years later and the couple now have three daughters, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Shirley Adams, aged 80, said: "All our family live in Halesowen, Cradley Heath and Cradley so it is great to see them all the time.

"They arranged a surprise party for us at Cradley Heath Liberal Club which was full of our family and friends."

The couple were also given a holiday to Fort William in Scotland from which they have just returned.

Bill Adams, aged 79, said: "We had a lovely time, it reminded us of our honeymoon in Edinburgh which was delayed because I was sent off to Cyprus and served in the army for two years."

The couple know the secret of their marriage's success.

Bill said: "We do everything together, for sixty years we have tried to do everything together, and now we even have a card from the Queen."

Shirley said: "We have had a great life together and had a few ups and downs but to be surrounded by our family is just wonderful."

Bill is looking forward to more anniversaries in the future.

He said: "Everything is great at the moment, we have had a good life but we are happier than ever before."