A SPARKLING Siddington couple who have just celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary say the secret to a long and happy marriage is 'just being friends'.

Barney and Shirley Cooper, who live near Cirencester, celebrated 60 years of marriage on Thursday and enjoyed a big party with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The couple met when Mr Cooper, age 18 at the time, was an RAF corporal in Gibraltar. Mrs Cooper, also then 18, was the daughter of a builder in Stroud who worked for the air ministry. Her father was extending the runway in Gibraltar, and had brought his family along.

"My wife had to leave to go back to the UK," said Mr Cooper. "I wrote her a letter asking her to come back and asking her to marry me."

After receiving permission from the RAF as he was under 21, Mr and Mrs Cooper were married two years later in the King's Chapel in Gibraltar and stayed in the country for around three years before returning to the UK.

"We have lived in Siddington for about 15 years," added Mr Cooper, who worked as a detective in the police force for 28 years and was also a member of Gloucestershire Police Male Voice Choir. "We used to go dancing a lot together. My wife also swims every morning in the summer in Cirencester Open Air Pool to keep fit. We have an annual ticket," he said.

When asked about their secret to a long and happy marriage, Mrs Cooper said it was about 'being friends'.

"It's purely being able to talk to someone about anything," she said.

The diamond couple, both aged 80, celebrated on January 17 at a party at The Corinium Hotel with their two sons, their daughter, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. On the day of the anniversary, they visited friends in Cheltenham, some of whom were members of Gloucestershire Police's Male Voice Choir.

They hope to visit Gibraltar again later this year, like they did to celebrate their 25th, 40th and 50th anniversaries.