They met as teenagers at an air raid shelter in Southmead, Bristol, more than 70 years ago and now William and Ellen Sowden are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary.

Mr Sowden was 16, and his wife-to-be 15, when they first met at the start of the First World War. Mr Sowden, from Cornwall, was in Bristol training to be a fitter, and soon after their romance began work forced him to travel the country. The young couple lost contact, then got back in touch briefly before Mr Sowden was called up for military service.

They lost touch once more, but Mr Sowden, now 87, said: "We never let go."

Eventually Mr Sowden proposed at the train station when he was about to return to where he was stationed in Glasgow. Shortly afterwards, in 1945, they were married at Bristol Registry Office.

They had two children, and now have two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They now live in Brentry.

Mr Sowden said: "When you build your life together and build your home and family around you, the value of all that keeps you together."