A YORK husband who "lined" up a special surprise for his wife on her 40th birthday was today celebrating still being married to her.

Steve Barsby marked wife Julie's landmark birthday by hanging 24 pairs of knickers from their Beckfield Lane home on Tuesday, making up the words "Happy Birthday Julie - 40 today".

It was his revenge for Julie's years of practical jokes on him and others.

But although he feared the whole stunt might end in divorce, Julie took it all in great humour.

"I swore when I saw it. I swore a lot," said Julie, who works in the restaurant at York District Hospital.

"But I had to admit it was brilliant. Talk about airing your dirty laundry in public. I demanded to know whose knickers they were, and I was a bit relieved to hear he'd bought them specially."

Steve, also 40, said: "I think she was overwhelmed; I finally got her. But everyone was at it that day. Her friends at work put a big banner on a crane.

"I thought for a minute I'd be looking to put an ad in the lonely hearts column, but it worked out OK." His efforts were helped by the fact that he had bought them both a two-week holiday in Halkidiki as a sweetener.

Julie said: "This is going to take some getting back. The cogs are turning and I'm thinking about it."

Updated: 11:46 Thursday, September 19, 2002