A couple have celebrated 50 years of marriage in the company of loved ones.

Neville and Janet Smith are both former employees of Archant, which publishes the Ipswich Star.

Mr Smith, 74, left the company in 1996 for health reasons but had worked for the newspaper’s composing room for 45 years, retiring as production manager.

Mrs Smith, 71, worked in the accounts department.

The couple celebrated their anniversary with daughter, Lisa, son, Martin, and grandchildren, Kara, Lily and Ashley.

Mr Smith now lives at Oakwood House nursing home, in Kesgrave, while his wife still lives at their family home in Kempton Close, Ipswich.

The Smiths met as teens at a dance in Baths Hall - now the Manor Ballroom. They were married at St Mary and St Botolph’s Church, Whitton.

Mrs Smith, nee Burrows, said the secret to their long marriage was an enduring love for each other. She added: “We’ve always had our own hobbies. Neville played and refereed football, and I had my interests. There’s no variety if you’re in each other’s pockets.”