CELEBRATING 70 years of married life are Keighley couple Ernest and Edna Wilkinson.

The pair, who have lived and worked in the town all their married lives, have been at their Bracken Bank home for more than 40 years.

Edna, 89, was born in Keighley while Ernest, 86, was born at Pontefract army barracks.

They met while working in the same Keighley woollen mill, Ernest as an overlooker and Edna as a spinner, and they remained there until they retired.

The couple had five sons and two daughters, and now have 16 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.

Ernest and Edna’s daughter Karen Mirza said her parents were proud to reach their platinum anniversary and still be in a position to celebrate it with family.

She said: “Both are in good health although Mum had a severe stroke in 2012 and Dad now takes care of Mum after many years of Mum taking care of everyone!

”They are a very devoted couple who have worked very hard all their lives and have instilled this into their children, who love and respect them dearly.”

Karen said that much of his life his father has enjoyed keeping ferrets and hunting for rabbits in farms in the Yorkshire Dales, while her mother enjoyed buying shoes and clothes.