Fred and Molly Pratley had the red carpet laid out for them on their diamond wedding anniversary.

The couple were first given special treatment at Witney's Elms Day Centre, with a birthday cake and plenty of cards.

Then, for lunch, they were taken, along with others from the centre, to Lechlade Garden Centre - with their son James as minibus chauffeur.

In the evening, Mr Pratley, now 88, rounded off the day at a singing rehearsal with the charity fundraising group The Entertainers.

"He's still going strong at his age and wouldn't miss out on the singing," said his son.

Mr Pratley, born and bred in Witney, met his wife Molly Maguire after she moved to England from Ireland in 1942 at a dance in Witney's Corn Exchange.

He served in the RAF as a wireless operator in the Second World War and then went to work as an engineer at the former Crawford Collets factory in Tower Hill, Witney.

They married on March 17, 1948, at St Mary's Church, Witney, and have lived all their life together at the same house in Corn Street where he grew up. They have one son and two grandchildren, James and Nicola.

Mr Pratley, a tenor voice, started with the RAF Brize Norton Singers before joining The Entertainers, which, over the years, has raised thousands of pounds for charity with concerts and sing-a-longs in the area.

Mrs Pratley helps out making refreshments for the events.

Mr Pratley was also a keen sportsman, a former wing half-back for Witney Town FC, and member of Witney Town Bowls Club.