DANCING sweethearts Alma and Fred Forrest had a big hurdle to overcome before romance blossomed - Alma couldn't stand Fred.

When the young soldier first asked the teenage Alma for a waltz at an army base dance almost 55 years ago she thought he was to full of himself for his own good.

But Fred, from Scotland persisted and won her over and today they are celebrating 50 happy years of marriage.

The couple live in the Grimshaw Park area of Blackburn, and have four children. Fred is originally from Aberdeen and Alma from Cumbria.

They met when Fred was stationed at the army base in Dalton with the Highland Light Infantry before he was posted to Italy and North Africa. He worked as a bus driver with Blackburn Transport until his retirement.

Alma was an auxiliary nurse at Park Lee Hospital and later a relief warden providing emergency cover at sheltered housing complexes across the North West. Alma, 69, likes reading and playing bingo and Fred, 72, looks after his garden. Both enjoy spending time with their family.

They have three daughters, one son, eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren and are celebrating their anniversary with a big family get-together.

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