A couple from Great Yarmouth are celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Michael and Tilly Houghton’s romance began on the town’s seafront.

Mrs Houghton said: “We met on a casual walk along the Yarmouth seafront, which is a thing a group of us did on a Sunday. We would go to the pictures first and walk along the front.

“We had a mutual friend in the group and Michael walked me home after we watched Susan Slept Here at the Empire.

“Then we made a date for the Monday, which was his 16th birthday.”

Mr Houghton did not wait around, and soon after meeting his wife-to-be he asked for her father’s permission and proposed.

Mr Houghton then joined the merchant navy, spending a lot of time away, and the couple were eventually wed in 1958.

Mrs Houghton said as a 16-year-old she never would have dreamed of reaching this landmark, but she puts their longevity down to sharing.

She said: “I really think you have to give and take, that’s the main thing.

“You have to share everything, and our thing was love; we thrived on it.

“Mike played golf and I liked going to bingo, so you do what you want to do when you want to do it, but then we would share things we both enjoy, like holidays.

“I think having the children, and holidays together have been some of the highlights of our time together.”

Mr and Mrs Houghton have five children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, spread over a great distance, with one son living in Dubai.

However, in a suitably rare and special occurrence, all of the children and grandchildren united for a celebratory buffet at The Prom Hotel in Marine Parade.

Mrs Houghton said: “Thanks to our wonderful sons and daughters and their partners and thank you everyone for all your good wishes.

“Also thanks to my nephew for taking all the pictures and putting them all together, and to Maria for the most beautiful cake.

“The gathering of so many family and friends was amazing and the day was a memory that we will treasure always.”