TEA at a cinema restaurant led to a lifetime of love for a Dorchester couple who are celebrating their diamond wedding today.

The waitress at the Plaza who brought the tea caught the eye of the soldier who ordered it - and Howard Colley asked young Beryl Chaplin to a dance.

Mr Colley - known as Bob - said: "There were a lot of places to dance in Dorchester in those days so we went to quite a few."

Before long their steps led them to a wedding at All Saints Church in Dorchester and 60 years of married life.

Mr Colley's visit to the Plaza came soon after he arrived in the county town with the Dorset Regiment after four years serving with the Somerset Light Infantry through the war.

He said: "I was told to report to the Keep in Dorchester but I didn't know where Dorchester was then - I had to look it up on a map."

After army life he worked for the motor company R J Watts at Fordington and joined the South Dorset Motor Traders Association.

He later went to Old Motor Group as an accountant responsible for seeing all its 10 or more branches prepare for computerisation.

Family life has always been at the heart of the couple's marriage and they see their two daughters and son, their four grandchildren and step-grandchild and their greatgrandchild as often as possible.

Mr Colley, 84, said they enjoy their garden at their Wessex Way home.

He said: "We've got a summer house at the end of the garden and we like nothing more than to settle down there in the sunshine."

He also enjoys swimming at Bowleaze Cove with Mrs Colley, 78, tucked up in the car to watch in comfort.

The couple say the secret of their long and happy marriage is their family.

Mr Colley said: "Young people keep you young - I like playing football with my grandson."