We are bombarded by figures that show fewer and fewer of us are tying the knot in these days of divorce and co-habiting.

But more than 2,000 people are today expected to attend The Friars, Aylesford, for a celebration of marriage.

About 1,200 couples from the Diocese of Southwark, which includes much of Kent and South London, will today gather for mass at the Carmelite priory at 3pm - and every single couple will be celebrating 10, 25, 40, 50 or 60 years together.

"It's going to be a very happy event," said Prior Father Francis Kemsley.

For full story see next week's Kent Messenger.