Valentine's Day is always extra special for Beryl and Les Matthews – it's their wedding anniversary.

This year, the couple from Fishponds will celebrate 69 years of marriage and are believed to be one of the oldest couples in Britain to have married on February 14.

The pair met 73 years ago as they were strolling around Eastville Park lake and have been together ever since.

Beryl, 89, said: "I was out with some friends at the time and we just started chatting."

Les, 92, said: "I remember a couple of blokes came along and started to get fresh, so I asked Beryl if I could walk her home."

The couple courted for four years before marrying at St John's Church, Fishponds, in 1940.

Because of wartime shortages, they had no ingredients to make a wedding cake and no camera or film to take wedding photos.

Beryl wore a navy pinstripe skirt and jacket.

They did not have a honeymoon, but in the ensuing years enjoyed many walking holidays in Wales.

Les, who was a painter and decorator, and Beryl first lived in Kingswood before moving to the Oldbury Court area of Fishponds, where they have lived for 50 years.

Sixty years on, they have four children, 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren with another one on the way.

Beryl said the secret to a long and happy marriage was not packing your bags at the first problem.

She said: "We have always sorted things out between us."