A HARDGATE couple who have been married for 70 years have said there is no secret to a long marriage – you just need to love one another and take care of each other.

Betty and Willie Mckee celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary this month.

The couple met at a church hall youth club dance when they were both aged just 17. They then married on the nearest Friday to Valentine's Day, February 17, in 1950.

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Betty and Willie went on to have two daughters, Carol and Avril, and have two granchildren, a great-grandson, with a great granddaughter on the way.

The happy couple are pictured with Provost William Hendrie and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Owen Sayers​.