A couple who met on a blind date playing darts will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary this week.

Norman and Peggy Finch who have lived in Bedmond for 40 years will be marking 50 years of marriage on Friday (July 27).

The couple met after a family friend organised a date for them to play darts together on the instincts they would be a perfect match.

They married just less than a year later at Watford Registry office in the summer of 1962.

Mrs Finch, who is 73, explained her delight at meeting the love of her life at the age of 22.

She said: "I had been on dates before but me and Norman just clicked.

"After our first date, the next day he took me to the pictures and three children later we haven’t looked back."

At the time of meeting, Peggy worked in Kings Langley and Norman worked as a brick layer.

They have lived in Abbots Langley and Nash Mills in their time and then settled in Toms Lane in Bedmond.

After the pair met each other through their mutual love of playing darts, Peggy went on to become the team manager of the Hertfordshire Ladies Darts Team.

After giving that up, she is still very hands on in the community and was heavily involved in the jubilee events as part of Bedmond Community Task Force.

The pair also have great involvement in volunteering at Bedmond School and Bedmond Sports and Social Club.

Mrs Finch, said: "Norman is really supportive in everything I do.

"I think the secret to our successful marriage is having our own space and interests and then to come back together and talk about it.

"One of my fondest memories with Norman has to be our visits to Hayling Island. I have always been in love with the place and I watched Norman fall in love with it too.

"I am also very proud of our three lovely children who are very special."

Norman and Peggy have had a tough year, with Norman going through numerous knee operations and a hip replacement.

He is also on the road to recovery after battling leukaemia.

Peggy added: "It was a great shock because Norman is a very fit man however he is now on the road to recovery and we shall live each day to the fullest.

"I am so happy to be celebrating our 50 years of marriage with him."

The couple’s three children, Tarnia, Frank and Fleur alongside their three grandchildren will join them in their celebrations.