They have known each other for more than 70 years and celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary Muriel and David Edwards are still the best of friends.

The pair who live in Shirehampton Road, Sea Mills, both celebrate their 82nd birthday this year but met when they were just 12 years old.

Mr Edwards said: "I used to go to Weston Grammar school after I passed the 11 plus. There was no bus there so I used to have to cycle.

"I saw Muriel as I cycled through Upper Langford, where she lived, and that's how we became friends."

Despite being so young it would seem that they were destined to be together, proved later after a date in Congresbury.

Mrs Edwards said: "When we were about 17 we went to a harvest festival and entered a raffle.

"We won a tea service and then we won a set of saucepans.

"We joke that we had to get married after that. We couldn't even carry them all home, we had to get the local grocer to help us."

The couple did get married in St John's Church in Churchill in 1949 and had their reception at Churchill memorial hall. Despite the war time rationing still in place, they managed to celebrate with a feast thanks to the help of neighbours.

Mrs Edwards said: "I wore a white full length dress and we had lots of pink carnations.

"For the reception the lady who lived nearby killed her pig and so there was plenty of food to go round."

The couple then honeymooned in Eastbourne and have since enjoyed lots of holidays in Europe and America.

Once married, the couple moved to Grayland Road, Bishopsworth, while Mr Edwards worked as an engineer at WD and HO Wills, in Bedminster.

They had two children, Margaret, now 58, and Richard, 55, and two grandchildren, Andrew, 29, and Claire, 27. Mrs Edwards later worked for estate agents Chappell and Matthews in Whiteladies Road.

Mr Edwards said the secret to a lasting marriage was give and take.

He said: "I love her as much now as when I first met her but in a different way. We're the best of friends, but it's all about give and take."

Mrs Edwards said: "We have respect for each other, I don't always agree with him but we work it out between us – it's all about compromise. We also have a very supportive family."

On Friday a gathering of family and friends celebrated the milestone with cards, presents and cake.

The couple said they were overwhelmed and "absolutely charmed" by the kind wishes and gifts.