IT WAS love at first sight for Bob Gifford after he spotted his future wife Ivy 74 years ago.

Bob, now 81, was just seven years old in 1927 when he saw the love of his life, who was five, in Sydling St Nicholas where she was on holiday.

He immediately told his mother that he had seen the girl he was going to marry.

He didn't see Ivy, who lived in Cardiff, again for nearly eight years but now the couple are celebrating their diamond-anniversary with a quiet meal surrounded by their family.

Bob and Ivy, 79, live on Portland Road in Wyke Regis, Weymouth, and have two children, Roger and Peter, two grandchildren, Alexander and Anita and two great grandchildren.

Bob, who was an engineer in the Royal Air Force, said: "After the first time I saw Ivy I didn't see her again until November 26, 1936, when she had come back to the village for another holiday. I spoke to her but I didn't go out with her and it wasn't until I saw her again on August 13, 1939, that we went out for a walk."

But it was wartime and Bob joined the RAF. An engagement party organised for them had to be cancelled after he was posted to France.

But true love prevailed and on January 14, 1942, they were married in Minster Hall, Cardiff.

Bob said: "We have been very happy together," and Ivy added: "We have shared everything."