A COUPLE who met on a trip to Blackpool Tower hit the heights of love soon after.

And Olive and Alan Holden's relationship is as strong as ever as they celebrate 50 years of marriage at their home in Whalley Terrace, Tockholes.

The couple were teenagers back in 1951 when they met on the excursion, and 12 months later they married at St John's Church in Blackburn. Children followed later, and now Les, 44, and Derek 42, have given them four grandchildren - three girls and a boy.

The couple lived in the Knuzden area of Blackburn before moving to Tockholes 20 years ago. Throughout this time, Alan was an engineer at the former Mullard's factory in Philips Road, Blackburn, while Olive worked for the Matthew Brown brewery.

Alan said they had never stopped loving each other. "We are tolerant and happy," he said. "We are just in love and understand each other so well."