A husband and wife living in a Kent care home are believed to be the oldest couple in the UK.

Dorothy and Tim Walter, aged 103 and 102, have been married for an incredible 81 years – but say they have never argued.

The pair, who met aged 18, spoke to KentOnline this week at Oakfield House in Wingham, near Canterbury.

They only moved into the care home in March last year, having lived together in their own house in nearby Wingham Green until the age of 101.

Tim was still driving up until the age of 95, as well as playing the cornet up till a similar time.

From getting married aged 21 during the Second World War, to running their own fruit farm, and then becoming great-grandparents, the couple have led an eventful life.

Dorothy told KentOnline: “We had no idea we’d last this long.”

During the war, Dorothy worked for Supermarine in Southampton, making parts for Spitfires and Walrus flying boats.

Tim was an apprentice and was often tasked with fixing the machines which Dorothy was using.

It was here that the pair met as teenagers.

Tim told KentOnline how he would ride his bike to meet Dorothy outside of working hours – but would often have to run for cover as the Luftwaffe flew overhead.

“Because I was an apprentice, I stayed at the living quarters while working at Supermarine in Southampton,” he said.

“I would ride my bicycle to go and see Dorothy. Quite often, I would be riding and an air raid siren would go off. I’d leave the bike and get to safety.

“When the siren stopped, I’d be back on my bike and on my way.”

Tim also recalled how German bombs almost killed one of his friends.

“I remember a siren going off during the night once,” he said.

“I scrambled out of bed and looked out the window. We knew the Germans were quite often over us but I could see little black dots in the sky – they were bombs.

“It was horrendous and sure enough one landed not far away and buried one of my friends up to his neck. Luckily, he was alright.

“We were young enough to get through it.”

They married at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Newbury, Berkshire, in 1942, both at 21 years old.

The pair say they have “never argued” over the past eight decades, although they admit they may have had “different opinions” at times.

After getting wed, they had their first daughter Carole in 1943 and their second Sue, in 1947. Carole sadly died in 1985.

“Providing you are content with life and your partner, you’ll be okay...”

In 1954, the family moved to Elmstone, a village between Canterbury and Sandwich, where they bought a fruit farm.

Tim says he loved pigs so built pens and started breeding them. He had 50 sows and one boar, which he named Wally.

One piece of life advice offered by the couple is to get out and about as much as possible. They had a boat which they would often take around Europe.

“We made a lot of friends and we’ve been lucky,” Dorothy said.

“France was our favourite place to go on holiday.

“When I came to Kent, I also joined the WI and would make wedding cakes for friends and family alongside helping on the farm.”

After farming, the pair retired to Wingham Green where they lived until the age of 101. In March last year, they moved to Oakfield House.

When asked what advice they would give people hoping for a long and happy marriage, Tim said: “You can’t point to one thing but providing you are content with life and your partner, you’ll be okay.”

While neither of them expected to live past 100, the great-grandparents-of-three say losing their independence has taken some getting used to.

Dorothy said: “We’re looked after very well here and we take each day as it comes. You have to embrace it and we’re fortunate to be here.”

Asked how it felt to be 102, Tim joked: “It’s just unnecessary!”

Care home manager Nikki Cross says she was quite surprised when she found out the Walters’ ages when they first arrived.

“They have both settled into the home well – they still attend the weekly exercise class,” she said.

“Tim keeps us entertained most days with his cheeky ways and stories of his life and Dorothy enjoys doing her puzzle books.

“As a home, we feel privileged to care for a couple who have been married for so many years and all enjoy listening to their stories.”

A database of the oldest couples in the country says that another husband and wife - Allan and Dorothy McDowell - have been married for 82 years and 64 days. This is 304 days longer than the Walters.

But the McDowells’ combined age of 201 is lower than the Walters’ at 205.

The next oldest couple in the UK are Reginald and Doris Woolgar, from Brighton, who have a combined age of 204.