AN Astwood Bank couple celebrate half-a- century of marriage this week.

Margaret and Ray Davis, of Retreat Street, will mark their golden wedding anniversary on Friday with family celebrations and a tea party. They will also have some holidays later in the year.

Mrs Davis, originally from Bradley Green, met her husband, from Webheath, on a blind date.

The couple married when they were both 21 and have not looked back since. They now have three sons and a granddaughter.

Mrs Davis said the secret to their marital success was give and take.

"He says he gives and I take but it's not like that really,'' she said.

''I think a lot of it depends how you have been brought up in your family life - you have to give and take but today, people are so independent."