David Hutchins thanks his lucky stars that he plucked up the courage to ask the pretty girl behind the newsagent's counter out on a date.

And on Thursday they celebrated 60 years of happy marriage together.

June Ovendon was just 15 when she worked at Hooks newsagent's, in the Market Place, Abingdon. Mr Hutchins, who was 18, popped in each day to buy a paper.

But it was only six months later that they told Mrs Hutchins' father that they were dating. Mr Hutchins, who worked at Cowley Concrete, said: "I had to be careful, as her father was very careful, as she was 15, so we didn't tell him. I met him about six months later and he said to his daughter — my wife — 'why didn't you bring him home before? I couldn't have chosen better myself'."

They married in St Helen's Church, Abingdon, on October 23, 1948, and have lived in Crosslands Drive ever since.

Mr and Mrs Hutchins, who are 84 and 81 respectively, used to enjoy ballroom dancing but now like to go on twice-daily walks. Mr Hutchins added: "We like to do things together, we have a family and we love children."

They will have a family party with their two children — Nigel, 55, and Lindsay, 50, — and five grandchildren on Saturday, November 1.