A VICAR and his wife will celebrate their silver wedding anniversary by renewing their vows - and have invited dozens of other couples to join in.

Canon Michael Ratcliffe, vicar of St Paul's, in Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle, and his wife Carol, wed 25 years ago on September 1.

And they decided to make it a day to remember by having others join their celebrations on Sunday, September 5.

The couple, who met when Canon Ratcliffe was the curate at Carol's home church in Blackpool, said they didn't want to do it on their own, so joining a chorus of couples seemed a good idea.

Carol said: "Marriage has been knocked so much but we are all going to stand up and say 'we are married, and we are still in love and enjoying it'.

"There is going to be a couple there renewing their vows after 50 years and ones only married for 12 months. It is going to be really special and I am sure we will all end up in tears."

The couple, who have no children and have been in Oswaldtwistle for 23 years, had a whirlwind romance - only going out together once before they got married.

Carol, who was a youth leader at the church when they met, explained: "It wasn't love at first sight because Michael had been at the church for 12 months before he asked me out. I thought he was very stuffy and he thought I was a bit too independent. But he asked me out and it just happened."

Despite describing her wedding day as the "most traumatic" time of her life, Carol said they had made their marriage work.

The 58-year-old practice manager at Bangor Street Health Centre, Blackburn, said: "I wanted to go home after the first two weeks. We were very different and both had very independent lives, which was difficult but we got it sorted."

Canon Ratcliffe, 60, said he was keen to see people married at the church return to renew their vows but that all couples were welcome.

The hymns and readings will be those chosen by he and Carol for their wedding day.

Anybody interested in joining in the ceremony can come along on the day but couples will have to book ahead for the after-service meal.

To reserve a seat, visit the church on Sunday and see the vicar.