FOUR Blackburn pals have stayed together through thick and thin to achieve the double gold.

Friends and neighbours George and Mabel Taylor and Joe and Joan Baldwin have lived next door to each other in Livesey Branch Road for more than 40 years.

And the two couples who have gone through the ups and downs of life together have now sealed their friendship with a double celebration - their golden wedding anniversaries.

Joe, 73, and Joan, 72, celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss on May 19 while George, 73, and 71-year-old Mabel's golden wedding anniversary was two days later on May 21.

George and Mabel's son Andrew said: "Mum and dad have become great friends with Joe and Joan over the years and it really is a coincidence that they celebrated their anniversaries in the same week.

"Over the past 12 months my mum and dad have both undergone operations and Joe has had heart trouble.

"All four of them rallied round to help each other when they needed it.

"Fortunately they were all in good health for the two anniversary parties."

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