An Ardrossan couple celebrated their Platinum Wedding Anniversary this week.

Pat and Mary McVey, both 87, were teenagers when they married on November 19, 1948. The couple have nine sons and one daughter, 25 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Pat, who is originally from Kilwinning, and Mary, who was born in Irvine, marked their 70th anniversary at their Ardrossan home with a visit from Deputy Lord Lieutenant XX

Mary said: “We were 17 when we got married. He was going into the army at the time because you had to do national service.

“My husband worked in the railway, he was a train driver. When Ardrossan shut down he went to Ayr on charge down in the office. Once I started having the family I worked in the hosiery place in Irvine.”

Asked what the secret to a long and happy marriage was, Mary replied: “My husband and I don’t smoke, we don’t drink … but we’ve got 10 children!”