A Falmouth couple are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary on Thursday, after enjoying 60 years of happy marriage.

Dudley and Shirley Watts married on March 30, 1957, after a chance meeting at Fish Strand Quay while Dudley was fixing his canoe.

Shirley offered to help Dudley, and the two developed a romantic relationship which remains strong to this day.

Together they have six children, 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren, and say they are just as in love today as the day they first married.

When asked about the secret to such a successful marriage 82-year-old Dudley said that they key is to have similar interests, and that the couple still go line dancing together regularly.

Dudley, a retired shop worker, said: "We've both got the same interests, we go line dancing, walking and shopping together, just general things really.

"We both went to school together but we didn't meet until after school. When we did meet we just hit it off together, and it's been the same ever since.

"We met at Fish Strand Quay, it was a chance meeting really.

"I was fixing my canoe and Shirley was walking past and asked if she could fix it for me and it just went from there - it's been great ever since.

"We were married at the parish church in Falmouth after courting for five years, and I've never looked back.

"If I could go back I wouldn't change anything, I'd do it all again.

"Times have changed now, I don't think people have the same commitment now as we had in our day.

"In our day you married and you stayed married because you wanted to.

"When we got married we lived in Swanvale for 40 years, and spent three years in Penryn, before 18 years where we are now.

"I think we're going out for a meal on the day of the anniversary, then we will be having a surprise celebration with the family later in the year."

Shirley, also a retired shop worker, said: "When I first met him he was talking to me and I thought 'oh, he's bleddy ansum'

"The most important thing is to be honest with each other, it's really important.

"I couldn't love him any more than the day I met him, we're grateful for each day we've got now, we live for today."