A BISHOPTHORPE couple who have lived in the village for 40 years are celebrating 70 years of marriage today.

George, 94, and Clara Mercer, 92, will mark their platinum anniversary surrounded by their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The couple met at RAF Catfoss, near Beverley, in 1941, where George was an engineer and Clara was a flight mechanic.

It was "love at first sight", they said, and five years later they left the RAF, marrying on May 25 in Southwick, near Clara's hometown of Sunderland.

Granddaughter Liza said the family put George and Clara's long and happy marriage down to their loving nature.

"They have had their ups and downs, as I'm sure everyone one has, but they have just got on with life and been grateful for what they have had."

They had a son, Ian, who followed his father into the insurance business. He died in 1995, but was survived by his wife Linda, and three children, Lee, Ian, and Liza.

George and Clara also have five great-grandchildren, who live near them in Bishopthorpe.

George worked as a manager for Brittanic Assurance in Blake Street for much of his working life, and the couple were also familiar faces at Clifton Bingo - where they went twice a day until just five years ago.