LIFELONG loves Fred and Margaret Littler are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

The couple married on July 26, 1944 at Astley St Stephen's Church just a week before Fred was sent away for wartime service in Burma.

It was over two years before they saw each other again.

The 79-year-old duo, of Ley Crescent, met at the age of 16 while on their way to the pictures in Tyldesley.

Both started work at 14 -- Margaret at Yates's Mill, at Boothstown, and Fred down the pit.

At 15 Fred left the mines after he was struck down by spinal meningitis and was called up for army service at 18.

An all-round sportsman he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers and was shipped off to fight in Burma where he suffered head and chest injuries in battle.

On his return home he started work at Kenkast before moving to George Gregson's at Tyldesley and later into council work.

Keen gardener Margaret said: "Looking back now the war was a horrible thing. I'm glad I lived through it but I wouldn't like to do it again.

"Morally times were better then and people were happy to be happy without having all these material things. We were glad to have a few currants and raisins."

The couple who have daughters Barbara and Pauline, nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren are celebrating with a couple of parties.

Margaret said: "We'd like to invite the world and his wife but it's impossible. We have a lot of good friends, proper friends."