A couple from Seaton have shown that holiday romances can work, as they prepare to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

Peter Woolf, 75, and Barbara Woolf, 73, met on holiday in 1968.

They were holidaying in Arenal, Majorca, with their friends.

Barbara said: "We were both staying at the same hotel and we got talking at the bar."

When Peter's holiday finished he returned to Liverpool and wrote to Barbara twice during the week that she was in Spain and a long distance romance blossomed.

The couple married on October 10 1970 at St John the Baptist Church, in Carlisle, Barbara's home town.

Peter narrowly missed reversing over his best man Derrick on the day, as the best man had managed to position himself in between two cars. Luckily he was unhurt and everything went smoothly, with the couple choosing to go to London for their honeymoon.

In the early days they settled in Liverpool and had their first child, Andrew, in 1973, with daughter Marie following in 1976.

They returned to Carlisle in 1980, where Peter got a job as Cumbria Co-op area manager. In 1982 the family moved and settled in Seaton, where they have lived happily for 38 years.

They have Andrew, 47, his wife Claire and their son Daniel, 11, who all live in Danby, North Yorkshire and they have Marie Steele, 44, husband Richard and two boys, Liam, 18 and Dylan, 11, who live nearby in Seaton.

All nine of the family were due to celebrate the couple's golden wedding anniversary at the Inn on The Lake, but with lockdown restrictions in the North East son Andrew and family will not be able to come.

The couple still intend to go and stay at the hotel, where daughter Marie and family will join them for a day, then when safe they will all celebrate together.

Barbara said this year was quite a big year for occasions, as Richard is 50, her grandson Liam is 18, her younger brother had his golden wedding anniversary in August, her sister-in-law is 80 and there is a ruby wedding to celebrate. So Barbara said as celebratory plans have all had to be curtailed this year, once it is safe to do so the whole family will have a party.

They are still looking forward to staying at the hotel and have already started receiving gifts in the post. Andrew has sent them a Fortnum and Mason parcel that Barbara is keen to open, but she will save it.

On the secret of a happy marriage Barbara said: "Give and take and my husband is so laid back he is horizontal, he takes everything in his stride. He's been like that all our married life, that's his outlook on life."

Peter said: "Saying yes I agree darling."