A pair of residents at a Newmarket care home have celebrated an extra special milestone as they mark 75 years of happy marriage. 

Sheila Manning, 92, and her husband Arthur, 96, live at Care UK's Kentford Manor on Jeddah Way in the town. 

The pair, who met when they were aged 16 and 19, toasted their 75th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, October 15. 

Their love story began when Arthur was at the pub with Sheila's father and, keen to be a matchmaker, her father set the two of them up. 

He told Arthur he had a daughter looking for love and brought him home to meet Sheila, with the couple saying it was "love at first sight" from that moment.

The pair were married in 1949 at Bury St Edmunds registry office and had a reception at Hargrave Village Hall. 

They went on to have four children, two daughters and two sons, who between them welcomed 11 grandchildren into the family.

Offering their advice for a successful marriage, Sheila said that the key is to “love and trust each other”, with Arthur adding that you must “stick together and not expect too much of each other.”

Kat Rayment, general manager at Kentford Manor, said: “Here at Kentford Manor, we know how important it is to celebrate all of life’s milestones, big and small.

"This was a big day for Sheila and Arthur, and we were honoured to raise a glass to their long and happy marriage – we can certainly all learn from their experience and advice.

“The atmosphere in the home was wonderful and prompted many residents to reminisce and share fond memories of their own weddings. It truly was a day to remember – happy anniversary Sheila and Arthur!"

Kentford Manor is a luxury care home a short distance from Newmarket town centre designed to enable residents to live "active and fulfilled lives" and promote independence.