STICKING together through thick and thin has been the secret of 50 golden years for Sam and Rita Smith.

But the couple almost never made it to their happy day at Acomb's Methodist Church, in 1951, as they didn't quite hit it off straight away.

Rita, 69, of Kir Crescent, in Acomb, explained: "We met at the old Acomb picture house and I was sat in front of him.

"He kept putting his feet up on the seats and every time he moved, so did the seat. I had to turn round and tell him to stop it!"

But love triumphed in the end, and today they mark their half-century with a family meal at the village's Carlton Hotel.

A former British Rail worker, Sam, 73, met Rita after returning from National Service.

The couple have two children, Carol, 46, and Stephen, 43, and now have four grandchildren. When asked about the secret of their marriage, Rita added: "It's been about give and take.

"We have had our arguments and our ups and downs but we've stuck through it and have a good family behind us."

Updated: 11:39 Saturday, September 08, 2001