ALL the fun of the fair has lasted half-a-century for one Worcester couple who celebrate their golden wedding anniversary today.

Donald and Phyllis Faulkner started their 55 years together after bumping into each other as they walked around a Hop and Cheese fair in 1947.

But Donald, a keen fisherman, said he was hooked from the moment he saw Phyllis and immediately asked if he could walk her back to her home.

Then, after five years of courting, the couple were married in the city's Holy Trinity Church, which used to stand in Shrub Hill Road.

"We were walking around the fair when our eyes met," said 71-year-old Donald, a keen sportsman who currently plays for Worcester's Hillbillies skittles team.

"As soon as I saw her I knew she was the one for me.

"I just said hello and asked if I could walk her home and she said yes. I had to walk two miles out my way, but it was definitely worth it as we just went on from there."

After the wedding, Donald worked as a lorry driver, while Phyllis brought up the couple's three children, David, aged 49, Donald, 47, and Jane 44.

Then, in 1978, after 32 years driving lorries, Donald moved to Royal Worcester Porcelain where he worked on the kilns, before retiring in 1990.

After 50 years of marriage, the couple, who live in Wensleydale Drive, Blackpole, say they have had a "wonderful" life together - despite having one or two ups and downs.

"We've had a smashing time together," said Phyllis, 73. "Like everyone else we've had our ups and downs, but we pulled together and carried on. It's been a good life together."

Donald put the couple's happiness down to having everything they wanted.

"All we wanted was a nice family, and we've got one," he said.

The golden couple, who have seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, admit they have no idea what their family has in store to mark the marriage milestone.

"We're very keen on parties so we hope there will be one to mark the day," added Phyllis.