A FORMER policeman and his wife celebrated 60 years of marriage yesterday.

Michael and Ellen O’Hara, of Ainsdale Road, Royston, met at a dancehall in Castleford, West Yorkshire, and got engaged a year later before marrying in Pontefract.

Michael, now 81, was the sergeant at Cudworth police station at the time of the miners’ strike in 1984 and 1985.

Ellen, 79, went on to have three children - John, Michelle and Catherine - and the couple now have eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Michael said: “I’ve always joked that the secret to a long and happy marriage is having two televisions, but we’ve always been a good match for each other and just get on well.

“One of our grandsons is getting married in a couple of weeks so although we didn’t do much to celebrate our diamond anniversary, we’re planning on seeing all the family at the wedding.”