It was love at first sight for a young bank worker when she clapped eyes on the handsome stranger she was to spend a blind date with.

And 50 years on and the couple have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

Gladys Mary, known to friends and family as Bonnie, and Brian Trowell, of Lockheart Crescent, Cowley, first met each other under the clock at Charing Cross Station in June, 1954 when their friends introduced them.

Mr Trowell was visiting an old RAF friend, who was engaged to a work colleague of Mrs Trowell at Barclays Bank.

The two couples went to the pictures to see the film Brigadoon and four years later Mr and Mrs Trowell, whose maiden name was Foskett, were married in Wimbledon.

Mrs Trowell, who is now 74, said: "It was love at first sight. I just fell in love with my husband's eyes, he had the most gorgeous brown eyes. He took to me straight away, it was very romantic."

The couple moved to Lytton Road, in Florence Park, on the night of their wedding, sacrificing a honeymoon to put a deposit on the house.

Mrs Trowell worked as a shorthand typist for Pressed Steel until she left to give birth to her first child Susan.

Mr Trowell, 75, worked for BMC in Cowley as a merchandiser.

The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Saturday with their children and grandchildren.

One daughter and two grandchildren live in Australia and were unable to join the party.

Mrs Trowell said that the couple had a lot to celebrate: "We have been happily married, we have had a few problems here and there, but we have struggled along."