CHILDHOOD sweethearts Audrey and John Hepple celebrated 60 years of marriage this month.

Audrey, 76 and John,78 met at the tender age of 13, but Audrey said she knew they were destined to get married.

She said: "We've been together since we were 13 and we got married when I was 16 on July 9 and I had our first child in the October.

"He always said he was going to marry me, so I always knew that we would be together.

"I think a lot of marriages nowadays don't last very long anymore which is a shame and very sad.

"I don't know what the secret to long marriage is but as long as you're happy together then that's all that matters.

The couple who live in Eastwick Road in Taunton had a party at the Somerset County Cricket Ground surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

Audrey added: "We have five children, 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren and they were all there to celebrate with us.

"It was lovely but we were very tired at the end, I don't think we'll be having another celebration like that but it is nice to have all the family together.

"We also had a card from the queen."

Audrey and John said they would like to thank everyone who went along and made a donation to the Alzheimer's Society.

The couple asked for donations instead of presents and managed to raise £230.