AN Ellesmere Port couple are celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Joe and Freda Fenwick, who have lived at the same Milton Road address for the past 54 years, celebrated their milestone with a family party at the Holiday Inn.

Freda said: 'It was a lovely party and we had a lot of nice presents and cards.

'All the grandchildren were at the party. Unfortunately, one of our grandsons, James, couldn't make it because he is in the Navy.'

The couple have four children: Gill, Gaynor, Nigel and Stephen, 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Ellesmere Port-born Joe, 83, and 81-year-old Freda, from Wrexham, met during the war at the Dale Camp near Chester when Joe was in the Cheshire Regiment and Freda belonged to the Catering Corps.

They married at Ruabon Parish Church when Joe was on leave from Germany from his role as a gunner.

Joe spent most of his working life as a butcher while Freda had various jobs including a school caretaker at Milton Road school and an inspector at the former Umbro factory on the Rossmore Industrial Estate.

Since retiring, Joe, a lifelong Everton fan, has enjoyed playing bowls and was also a member of Ellesmere Port Cycling Club.

Freda was a fan of bingo and embroidery.

But these days the couple are content to spent time with their family.