ANN Turner met the love of her life when he came to do some building work at her aunt's house.

After four years of courtship, including many outings to the Oxford dog races, she and John Townsend walked down the aisle at Witney's St Mary's Church.

Earlier this month, family and friends joined the couple to celebrate their 50 years together at a golden wedding anniversary meal at the Witney Four Pillars Hotel.

Ann, 70, and John, 77, are both Witney born and bred, but have lived all their married life at Witney Road, Ducklington - in the bungalow which Mr Townsend built himself.

Mrs Townsend said: "I was about 15 or 16 when I went along to see the young man doing the building work at my aunt's.

"He was my first boyfriend and our first date was at the old Witney Palace cinema. But we went countless times to the dog races, because that has been John's interest all his life. He's an ardent fan."

Mr Townsend, now retired, still owns and trains his own greyhound.

Mrs Townsend also has a sporting interest - serving at a snack bar at Ducklington Boys football games.

A number of her grandsons play for the club.

The couple have three sons and 15 grandchildren.