A DEVOTED couple whose love for one another has grown over the years are celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Jean and George Munn of Kilmacolm, are marking their diamond anniversary with a special lunch for family and friends at the Tontine Hotel.

The pair were teenage neighbours in Larkfield and went on to become lifelong partners.

Jean, 80, said: "We met as teenagers.

"George used to walk his dog where I lived in Auchmead Road.

"We met again on his last leave from his National Service and we started dating then."

George, 83, said: "I knew this was the lady for me."

The couple courted for three years before tying the knot at St Ninian's Church of Scotland in Larkfield on December 6 1958.

This was followed by a reception at the Co-operative Halls in Roxburgh Street and a honeymoon in Dundee.

Jean, who says George is a gentleman, said: "He asked my father's permission to marry me."

Their first home was in Gourock's Kempock Street before returning to Greenock to live in Lynedoch Street and Regent Street.

They were blessed with four children - Lachlan, 58, who now lives in Essex, Joyce, 54 who is based in the Borders, Helen, 51, who has settled in Cumbernauld, and Hazel, 46, who stays in Old Kilpatrick.

They also dote on their eight grandchildren.

George said: "We are a very close-knit family, the kids and the grandchildren all love being together."

George worked at Lamont's before his National Service in Germany and then IBM.

Jean was employed in the office of the Clyde Shipping Company before she had the children.

Jean says the secret of their marriage is respecting each other.

She said: "I believe in saying sorry when you are wrong and saying thank-you when you do something for each other."

George added: "When we got married I remember our minister saying 'never let the sun set on your wrath'."

Jean and George have lived in Kilmacolm for the last 14 years and have thrown themselves into village life and are very active in Grace Church, Free Church of Scotland.

They have enjoyed holidays abroad in the past, although prefer visiting Scottish islands in the Outer Hebrides and Skye.

But they are looking forward to jetting off to the sun in Lanzarote before their special family get together.