A COUPLE whose love blossomed on a dancefloor more than 75 years ago have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

Great grandparents Mary and Harry Anderson still attend ballroom events in Largs and are very much an active part of the local scene - despite a combined age of 188.

Harry, 93, and Mary, 95, met at a Glasgow dancehall as youngsters and, after a short engagement, were married on September 17 1947 before Harry was posted to Kenya on National Service in the Army, a tour of duty that took him away from his new wife for two and a half years.

On his return, he worked as a coal merchant before he and Mary began running public houses in the centre and the west end of Glasgow.

They 'retired' to Kinlochard in the Trossachs in 1989 and ran the Post Office in the village for 16 years. The couple later moved down the Clyde coast to Skelmorlie, where they have lived for the past 17 years.

For many years, Harry and Mary were part of the dancing community which used to meet at the Willowbank Hotel in Largs and still try to attend any local dance events.

They have two children Lorraine, who lives in Herefordshire in England with her husband Tom, and Ronnie, who lives in Glasgow with his wife Chris.

They have two grandchildren, Iain and Laura, and four great-grandchildren, Ted, Freya, Esme and Connie, the youngest of whom is only 12-weeks-old.

Asked of the secret of her parents' long marriage, daughter Lorraine said: "I think it is sticking together and supporting each other

"Their favourite tipple now is tonic water - minus the gin.

"Their main passion over the years has always been dancing. It is amazing that for many years that they were still dancing in a number of local clubs in the area including at the Willowbank Hotel. Whilst they are unable to dance any longer due to reduced mobility, they continue to enjoy attending events in Largs as keen members of the audience. They are still very much part of the dancing community.

"It is an amazing milestone to reach the 75th diamond wedding anniversary - I don't think they can believe it themselves.

"It's a magnificent achievement."

Mary and Harry celebrated at a restaurant in Glasgow at the weekend with family and friends.