A COUPLE who met on the streets of Leigh celebrated their Golden Wedding in Belgium.

Dennis and Annie Gore, of Waterview Park, Leigh, met on what was known as the "monkey run" when Annie (nee O'Gara) was 18 and Dennis was 23.

Annie said: "There wasn't anywhere else to go in those days. Groups of girls and groups of lads used to walk up and down in Leigh town centre talking to each other, it sounds silly now, but that's what we did every weekend."

A year later, on June 11, 1952, they married at Leigh Register Office and moved to Dennis's family home in Milton Street.

Special holiday

The happy couple, who have two sons -- Joseph and Geoffrey -- and three grandsons, celebrated the occasion with a special holiday in Belgium, where they were presented with a commemorative plaque by the tour guide to the cheers of other holiday makers.

They also treated themselves to new wedding rings to mark the occasion.

The retired Courtaulds employees enjoy relaxing, gardening and holidaying.

They put the success of their marriage down to hard work. Annie said: "It takes hard work and tolerance, but it's also about give and take. It hasn't been easy, we've had our ups and downs but we have always come through them."