According to Les and Margaret Earwicker, the secret to a long and happy marriage is not to take yourself too seriously.

In fact, the couple, of Edward Road, Addiscombe, say their sense of fun and humour is the thing that's helped them reach their 60th wedding anniversary, which they celebrated last week.

"I read somewhere that people laugh an average of seven times a day," says Les. "Well, we normally laugh that many times before breakfast.

"We don't like to take ourselves too seriously and that's how we go through life. We still, after all these years, enjoy each other's company."

The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last Thursday with a congratulatory telegram from the Queen before joining friends for dinner at a restaurant in the evening.

Margaret, known as Peggy, said: "We met at a dance at St James's Hall in Croydon when we were both 15. We both went in to the RAF and Les asked my father permission to get married and he said no."

"He was worried about his daughter becoming a widow during the war," added Les.

Peggy said: "So we waited and got married three days after the war ended. VJ Day was on August 15 and we got married on August 18 when we were both 21.

"Les flew home from Germany and we were the first couple to be married in Croydon Parish Church after the war.

"You could not get camera films easily in those days but my cousin used to work for Howard Kings, the famous Croydon photographers, and managed to get a film.

"But when my uncle took the photos they all came out one on top of each other except one, and we treasure that one."

Les and Peggy, both 81, are retired but fill their spare time by volunteering at St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham and at Addiscombe Boys' Club.