A COUPLE who had their first date at a York venue have returned after more than 50 years as an anniversary treat.

Mick and Maureen Stannard celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary last month, and after reading their story in The Press, the de Grey Rooms invited them to a ball this weekend.

Maureen said: "It was a lovely surprise to be invited and we want to thank them very much. It was out of the blue, I never dreamed anyone would read that paper and offer us something like that.

"It took us back to our first date, when Mick was wearing Rupert Bear trousers and a lime green jacket, but he can't fit into them any more so we got dressed up to make sure we had a good time."

The dance followed a belated honeymoon trip to Edinburgh, which started with the couple getting on two wrong trains, Maureen said: "50 years I've waited for this, I couldn't believe it.

"The hotel was too posh, filled with businessmen so there was noone we could have a talk to in the bar. We did enjoy it though, took an open-top bus tour of the city, saw the castle and park, which was lovely. After that difficult journey, we've been looking forward to the dance to round off the anniversary nicely."