BETTY and Bill Ryder will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary in style on Friday when they ride on the Orient Express.

The Tyldesley couple will travel from Bolton to Buxton on the world famous steam train thanks to their eight children who bought them their Express tickets.

Betty and Bill, of Standish Street, met in 1952 when they worked at Burtons in Swinton. Betty said that at the time they were the only couple not to be "courting" at the firm -- soon they became an item and were married a year later. Bill took early retirement in 1991 from GEC Engineering in Trafford Park.

Now the Ryders of Standish Street, who also have 17 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, can't wait to climb on board.

Betty, aged 71, said: "We're really excited. We don't normally go away on holidays together so this is going to be a real treat. We didn't know we were going -- it was a real surprise."

And they said the secret to a long and happy marriage was tolerance.

She said: "I think young couples today split up over the smallest of things. We have learned during 50 years of marriage to be tolerant with one another -- it's all about give and take."

Seventy-five years old Bill continues to grow vegetables on the allotment he has tended for the last 55 years. And Betty's creativeness continues at her craft and art painting classes.