IT WAS a real family occasion when Brian and Hazel Morgan from near Dorchester celebrated their golden wedding today.

Son Glyn, 47, was also celebrating his marriage to wife Elizabeth and grandson Ian Habgood was marking his 18th birthday on the same day.

Also at the occasion was granddaughter Rebecca, who was three earlier this month.

Brian, 68, and Hazel, 66, of Kit Lane, Owermoigne, were treated to a surprise party with 60 guests at Dorchester rugby club.

Among the guests were son Philip 49, who is married to Donna, and their two daughters, daughter Angela, 41, with her son and daughter and husband David, and youngest daughter Diane, 37, with husband Andy and their two daughters.

Son Brian was unable to make it to the gathering from his home in Washington DC.

Hazel said: "We thought we were going to celebrate Ian's 18th birthday and it ended up that it was for us. We were really stunned. It was wonderful. They had found lots of old colleagues we hadn't seen for ages."

The couple met at a dance at Crossways army camp and married two years later on May 31, 1952.

Hazel recalled: "I guess it was love at first sight. We had a very quiet wedding. We didn't go away. We lived with Brian's mum for two years. We didn't have money but they were very happy times. If I could go back I'd do the same again."

Brian worked as a driver for a Dorchester firm when the couple married but finished his career as chief range warden at Lulworth.