FRIENDS and family of diamond couple Mac and Ethel Lewton helped them toast 60 years of marriage.

The couple, who live in Ullswater Crescent, Weymouth, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary with a special service at Radipole United Reformed Church.

There were not enough seats to go round when more than 75 people attended the reception in the church hall afterwards.

Mrs Lewton, 78, said: "The church was full and the service was beautiful - minister Jim Thorneycroft was absolutely wonderful."

It was love at first sight for the couple, when they met at a Red Cross Ball in Ulster in 1943.

RAF air crewman Mr Lewton - sole survivor of a plane crash on a mountain in Northern Ireland - had just taken off his bandages.

Mrs Lewton said: "It was a month before my 17th birthday, and Mac was the only boyfriend I ever had - we were married two years later.

Mr Lewton, now 83, lived through four more air crashes and won the Air Efficiency Medal before becoming a manager for Unilever.

They moved to Weymouth where they opened up the Regency Fish Bar at Lodmoor Hill.

They have one son, Dennis, and two grandchildren, Jonathan and David.

Mrs Lewton said the secret to a long, happy marriage is tolerance and love.

She added: "One memory I have is of driving to have photographs taken on our wedding day - a taxi drew up, and a Scottish officer handed us a bunch of white heather.

"My grandchildren gave me a white heather plant as a diamond wedding present to remind me of that day."

Mrs Lewton went on to thank the people who rallied round after she broke her rib just days before the diamond anniversary.

She added: "We have lived in Weymouth since 1968, and it is the happiest home we have ever had.

"We feel so privileged to have come to Weymouth and made such wonderful friends."

The Queen sent Mr and Mrs Lewton a card of congratulations to mark their anniversary.