It's full steam ahead for Pickering couple Dennis and Mary Hey, who were celebrating their golden wedding today.

Dennis and Mary, of Whitby Road, were marking the occasion with a trip down memory lane in the company of 24 of their closest friends on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Dennis said: "Mary and I were married in 1951 and have very fond memories of the steam railway line from the very beginning when we were courting.

"We love the old-fashioned steam trains and this stretch of 18 miles through the moor, so we are looking forward to the trip."

They met when Mary - who was then a district nurse - and her car got stuck in a narrow driveway and Dennis - a former signalman on the North Yorkshire Moors line - went to her rescue.

Among the family and friends joining them today was Mary's niece, Diane, who flew over from Vancouver specially for the festivities. Dennis, 80, and Mary, 76, have asked friends to donate funds to Hearing Dogs For Deaf People.

They are long-standing supporters of the charity and have regularly held coffee mornings and sold plants to raise cash.

"Dogs are very close to my heart and I have always admired the work the charity does for deaf people," said Mary.

"When you reach our stage in life, friends are at a loss as to what to buy for your 50th wedding anniversary and this seemed like an ideal opportunity."

Updated: 10:19 Wednesday, June 13, 2001