A HUSBAND and wife believed to be Britain's oldest surviving couple to have married on Valentine's Day are celebrating their 72nd anniversary today.

Romantics Beryl and Les Matthews, 92 and 95, tied the knot on February 14, 1940, but their relationship is still going strong.

Their eldest son Peter, 67, says he cannot believe how long his mother and father have been married.

Mr Matthews, who lives in Whitehall, said: "It's amazing – especially because nowadays marriages don't tend to last. I spoke to Buckingham Palace and I was told that my mother and father might be the oldest surviving couple to have married on Valentine's Day. They said there was a possibility there was one other couple in the country who have been married as long.

"I don't know what it is that has kept them going all these years. They are a very romantic couple."

The couple met 76 years ago as they were strolling around Eastville Park lake. They courted for four years before marrying at St John's Church in Lodge Causeway, Fishponds.

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

They did not have a honeymoon, but in the ensuing years enjoyed many walking holidays in Wales. Retired painter and decorator Les and his wife first lived in Kingswood before moving to Goffenton Drive, Oldbury Court, where they have lived for 53 years. As well as Peter, the great-grandparents have three other children – Fay, who lives in Shepton Mallet, Derek, who lives in Portishead, and Ronald, who lives in Downend.

Peter said although his father was poorly and needed care at home, his mother thrived on remaining independent. He said: "My mum broke her hip and was still making me meals to take home. We have carers looking after dad four times a day but mum still wants to be independent and cooks the meals. She says that if you stop her doing it, she will seize up. Dad sleeps a lot but you get a bit of conversation out of him from time to time. I don't think there will be a big fuss on their anniversary – there will be flowers and a cake."