A couple who found true love as teenagers have finally tied the knot - 65 years after they were forced to part.

On a bright April afternoon, in a small country church a few miles north of Carlisle, pensioners Margery Littleton, 83, and her long-lost sweetheart Alan Timbers, 82, finally achieved the fairytale conclusion to their romance.

The couple were married in a simple ceremony in front of just two guests – neighbours who had agreed to be their witnesses.

It was a remarkable happy ending to their love story that few people would have believed could be possible.

The couple first met in 1955 as 16-year-olds when living in Bracknell, near Reading.

But Margery’s father – an old-fashioned warrant officer in the Army – disapproved when they became ‘unofficially’ engaged, judging them both too young to wed.

When he took Margery with him to a posting in Singapore, Alan signed up for national service with the RAF, hoping to be posted there too so the romance could resume.

“But it never worked out that way,” said Alan, a retired design engineer. He and Margery lost touch and both went on to marry other people.

Margery married a serviceman and had two children before divorcing nine years later. She settled in Carlisle and married a farmer – a partnership that lasted 47 years.

Her husband died four-and-a-half years ago.

Alan also married but lost his wife of 55 years six years ago. His second marriage after that did not work out.

Both Alan and Margery say that they never forgot one another. “For many years, I’d wanted to get in touch with Alan,” said Margery.

“Then last year, I was watching Escape to the Country on TV when I heard them mention Bracknell – and my ears pricked up.”

It was the inspiration she needed to ask her son Peter to see if he could find Alan. Using Facebook, he found him within a matter of hours.

Margery said: “I had a phone call from Alan a couple of days later. I knew in my heart he was always the one for me.

“But things were very different in 1955: you had to ask your parents to get married before the age of 21.

“Although I’d had a first marriage in Singapore, it wasn’t a success. I had two children with him and it lasted nine years but the marriage didn’t work out.

“I came back to live in Carlisle.

“After a couple of years I met a farmer and married him but he died four and a half years ago. I didn’t know whether Alan was alive or dead. But when I met him I knew things hadn’t changed.

“We were carrying on where we left off 65 years ago – as if we’d never parted; we have such a lovely life.

“This house is now full of laughter. It’s as if I’ve started my life all over again. Alan was my first love. Our life’s now full of fun.”

Alan said: “Just before the first day of lockdown last year, I moved out and came up here, doing a six hour drive to get here.

“We’ve been together ever since and go everywhere together. If you can stand that for 16 months you know you’ve made it. When we broke up I was devastated.

At 16, when he first saw Margery in the handbag factory where they both worked, it was love at first sight, he said.

"I was working in electrical maintenance and Margery worked in the factory making handbags. I was working on a machine and this cheeky young woman came along and swung the handle, which could have been dangerous.

“From then on, we clicked.

“We started going out together. We were together for about a year and got engaged unofficially – but her dad objected to us. He reckoned we were too young.

“Margery’s son Peter found me on Facebook and asked if I was the Alan who was engaged to Margery 65 years ago.

“It’s fate. They say there’s an angel on your shoulder looking after you – and I think we have that. This was meant to be.

“We’re planning days out as soon as lockdown is over. I’m determined to make her happy.

“It’s hard to put into words how lucky we feel. I’m determined to make Margery happy and we’re looking forward to our life together.”

The couple were married by the Reverend Morag Casson on Wednesday afternoon at Canonby Parish Church near to their home. When lockdown restrictions ease, they plan a honeymoon in Scotland.