Most courting couples leave it a while to get to know each other before tying the knot, but two Ryedale newlyweds may have set a record - by waiting half a century.

Ron and Freda Sonley, of Kirkbymoorside, went out on their first date on November 5, 1950, and finally married last Friday, November 24, 2000.

The couple, both Yorkshire born and bred, were married at Malton Register Office. A reception followed at the Kings Head in Kirkbymoorside attended by 20 family members and friends.

After that, they enjoyed a night together with a glass of their favourite tipples - whisky and lemonade for Freda, rum and peppermint for Ron.

Freda, 84, said the couple had decided to marry after moving in together two years ago after she had a fall.

At the time, she needed 24-hour care, and as Ron, 76, spent a lot of time at her house anyway, so they decided to "do the job properly", she said.

Freda said: "I suppose we had never married before because we were perfectly happy with the way things were.

"But when we moved in together it worked very well so we decided we'd go on and get married. We had a really lovely day, we both loved every second of it. Ron didn't carry me over the threshold though - I'm not very mobile and he is a bit lame with his arthritis.

"I couldn't tell you how it feels to be a blushing bride - I don't think it has sunk in yet to be honest," Freda added.

When asked why he'd taken so long to make an honest woman of his girlfriend, Ron joked that he "hadn't had enough time to ask her."

He laughed: "My friends have been pulling my leg about it for years, but we were always happy with the way things were, so we thought there was no need to change until now - mind you, if I'd married her 50 years ago it would only have cost me a quarter of the money."

Asked about the secret of a long and happy relationship, Ron was quick to answer.

He said: "Hard work, give and take, and plenty of rum and peppermints."