A SNOWBALL fight that sparked a friendship developed into a marriage that has lasted 60 years.

Jean and George Poole, of Castle Green Lane, Kendal, are celebrating their diamond wedding today (September 25) after a happy marriage filled with both love and arguments.

"We've had our ups and downs and we always argue but when we fall out we always make up," said Mr Poole, 81. "We just love each other and we've always been happy and always been what we can for each other."

The pair met six decades ago in Salford during a winter snowball fight between a gang of girls and boys.

Mrs Poole, 79, was just 15 when she was hit by a snowball thrown the then 17-year-old Mr Poole.

"I went over and said sorry and that was it, we started going out," added Mr Poole.

At 18 Mr Poole joined the army for two years and on his return the pair got engaged and married on Mrs Poole's 19th birthday in 1954.

She said: "The years have just flown by and we're very lucky and in the long run it's been a very happy marriage.

"We used to go to bingo but now we watch sports together on TV and go into Kendal twice a week for a coffee or something to eat for a treat."

The couple, who moved to South Lakeland in 1985 and ran guesthouses in Windermere before going their own ways, retired and moved to Kendal in 2008.

They now have three children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Mr Poole continued: "When you meet the right person, you know and then everything is fine, it's just sad some people don't."