ESMEE and Roger Nicholls got the star treatment when they celebrated their 60th birthdays - with the big red book.

The couple were given the surprise of their lives when family and friends from St Joseph's Church in Weymouth staged a 'This is Your Life' extravaganza to mark their birthdays.

Members of their family gathered together from all over the country - and even flew in from abroad especially to be there.

Mrs Nicholls, of Bayard Road, Littlemoor said: "We had absolutely no idea what they were plotting. Everybody was in on it apparently. Father John Webb and the deacons from the church have obviously been telling us little white lies for months as they helped organise the surprise. I never realised there were so many fibbers in the clergy."

She said her daughter, Anna Maria Gill was behind the surprise party which was staged in the church. Esmee added: "They got us to the church under false pretences and the place was in total darkness. We were just so shocked when they turned on the lights and all our family and friends were there."

The biggest shock of the night came right at the end when the couple's son, Craig, walked in after jetting in from Iceland especially to be there.

Esmee said: "We still can't quite believe it - it was the best birthday surprise ever."