AS their eyes locked across a busy road in the summer of 1940 Stanley and Gladys Blackler could never imagine they would be happily married 67 years on.

The couple, of Checketts Court, Droitwich Road, Worcester, met when Mr Blackler was working as a policeman, directing traffic in Bristol.

As he went about his duties he caught the eye of a young woman working in a nearby pharmacy - and the rest is history.

Now the couple have celebrated 65 years of marriage, attributing their success to love and trust.

Mr Blackler, aged 87, said: "We love each other dearly and trust each other more. We may not always agree and sometimes we get on each other's nerves. But whatever happens we always stand together."

The couple were married at the tender ages of 18 and 23 and have since been keen members of their local operatic societies, wherever they lived.

Separated for a while by the Second World War, when Stan spent several years in the Royal Marines, the couple made their stage debut together with Bristol Amateur Operatic Society in 1952.

In 1958, they moved to Banbury and, dismayed to discover the town had no local operatic society, promptly founded one.

In 1967, the Blacklers moved to Tunbridge Wells, which, no surprise here, did have a society, with which they appeared for the next two years.

They moved to Worcester in 1969, when Mr Blackler was working for an agricultural seeds firm, and signed up with the Wor-cester Operatic and Dramatic Society, to which they still belong.

Mrs Blackler, aged 83, said: "We don't get on stage any more, but we help out behind the scenes a lot."

Last week, the couple, making tea and coffee for members of the society rehearsing for their next show, were handed anniversary gifts by immediate past-president David Humphries.

The couple celebrated their anniversary yesterday with their two children, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren with a garden party at their home.

There was also a special service in their honour at Brom-yard Road Methodist Church.

Mrs Blackler said: "We are very happy indeed together. There are not many people who get to celebrate 65 years of marriage so we are very lucky.''