Foster parents Denis and Mavis Lockstone have been married for 50 years, thanks to a shared love of sport.

The pair, who celebrate their golden wedding tomorrow, met the year before they were wed when Mrs Lockstone, 68, saw her future husband training.

Mr Lockstone, 71, said: "Mavis was a keen football fan and used to follow the Robins.

"I was playing for the Colts and reserves. We got chatting and I asked her out. Because we were both football fanatics it was nice and easy for us."

The couple, of Dormer Road, Arle, were married 18 months later at Christ Church in Cheltenham. Although unable to have children of their own they adopted three and fostered another 11.

Mr Lockstone is a retired carpenter and Mrs Lockstone, also retired, first worked as a hairdresser at Martin & Phelps' salon in Regent Street, before joining staff at the former Eagle Star restaurant.

They are now retired and remain devoted to sport.

Mr Lockstone said: "We're both very much into walking. We go on a five-mile walk once a week, ending up at a pub for a meal. I also cycle 40 or 50 miles a week and we're both very keen on rugby.

"I think the secret of our long marriage is that we help each other and we like the same things."