A couple brought together by petrol coupons during the Second World War are celebrating 70 years of marriage.

Bob Bridge met Lily at the former WJ Pullen garage which was based in West Street, Sittingbourne.

She worked in the office and would stamp his ration book whenever he visited the station to fill up his car.

Friendship grew into love and before long Lily and Bob were courting and were married 18 months later in Grays, Essex, on June 9, 1943. They married in Essex because Mr Bridge's family lived there.

Mr Bridge said: “I was 19 when we got married. We had to rush about a bit because we lived in Sittingbourne. We travelled up by bus, got married and came back the same day. We didn’t have a honeymoon.”

They went on to have three children Michael, 69, Tony, 68, and Melonie who passed away from cancer three years ago at the age of 62.

The couple, who have eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, are probably best known for running two town pubs. Their first was The Royal Oak, now the Tudor Rose, Maidstone Road, followed by The Billet in London Road, which they managed until they retired 25 years ago.

The 88-year-old added: “When I came out the army in 1947 things didn’t look very good.

"Wraights [a building company] took me back like they were supposed to but they were taken over and things weren’t the same. I knew the Royal Oak had gone on the market so I applied. There was about 70 applicants but we were chosen.”

To mark their platinum wedding anniversary, their grandson Barry and his wife Sarah held a family barbecue at their home in Petts Wood, near Orpington.

Gifts included flowers and a photo album but it was a card from the Queen which Lily, 90, took a real shine to.

Mr Bridge, of Woodside Gardens, Sittingbourne, joked: “She was over the moon with it, more so than when the family sent cards.

“I’m sure the Queen is a very nice person but I’m not as interested in it as she is. It was on the mantelpiece but I’ve moved it to the window sill. She likes to show it off but I don’t because there wasn’t a cheque in it.”