IF any couple should know the secret of a long and happy marriage, it's John and Elizabeth Stott.

But after 70 years together, the couple believe modern married couples have little chance of following in their footsteps because divorce is now too easy. Hard on the heels of National Marriage Week, the couple from Stacksteads are celebrating their platinum anniversary.

And as the government looks at ways of making marrying and staying married more popular, the Stott's simple recipe for success is: "Treat your partner as you would like to be treated yourself."

At 93 Mrs Stott is a firm, outspoken champion of old-fashioned principles like no sex before marriage and living within your means and says it is now too easy to end a marriage.

The couple are celebrating their platinum anniversary today at their home in Herbert Street, Stacksteads. Among the guests will be Mr Stott's brother Fred and his wife Mary, from Clitheroe, and Rossendale Mayor and Mayoress Coun Peter and Mrs Lynne Heyworth.

Friends from Acre Mill Baptist Church, near Haslingden, have donated an anniversary cake which is on display beneath the Stotts' wedding photograph taken in a Bacup studio. Lifelong Stacksteads residents, the Stotts began married life in a cottage at Acre Mill. Mr Stott, now 95, spent all his working life as an assistant and deliverer for the former Barcroft's grocer shop.

Mrs Stott began work half time in the McLerie's footwear factory at the age of 12.

The couple met by chance 75 years ago. Mrs Stott was visiting a friend in Stacksteads when her future husband literally popped out from a side street where he had been delivering groceries. They began chatting to each other, went out together and have been together ever since.

"We had to wait five years before getting married because we had to save up. We got only five shillings a week spending money from our wages. That's how it was in those days," said Mrs Stott.

Mr Stott served in World War Two with the Royal Army Service Corp airborne division. At 39 he was the oldest worker at Barcroft's but the first to be called up.

The couple have no children but say they are fortunate in having always had lots of friends. Until this winter they were very active, using the free bus pass given to 90 year olds for regular trips to Accrington.

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