THE church was bombed, the bride’s dress was nearly destroyed and the wedding car didn’t show up – but nothing could stop these childhood sweethearts tying the knot 70 years ago.

It was love at first sight when Colin Thornton set eyes on Marie at the London factory where they both worked as teenagers.

The couple, who retired to Highcliffe 25 years ago, met when they were 16 and were engaged three years later.

But their big day nearly turned into a complete disaster following a string of bad luck.

Mr Thornton said: “Two days before the wedding there was an air raid in the area which knocked down half of the church.

“The bridesmaids’ dresses and Marie’s dress were in her mother’s parlour. Their house was bombed and the ceiling came down but fortunately the dresses were in covers. “And the car didn’t turn up because it went to the wrong address.

“It was as though someone was trying to tell us something but I’m glad we didn’t listen.”

Fortunately, Mr Thornton’s father was able to drive the bride to the church and the service went ahead as planned on February 24, 1945.

He said: “My father had a petrol ration and he said he would take her down to the church.

“Just as they got to the crossroads there was a policeman and my father told her she would have to duck down out of sight because if he saw them they would get in trouble.

“When she got to the church she had to bang on the door because the priest wasn’t going to let anyone else in.”

The couple, who are both 90, had their eldest daughter, Susan, followed by twins Denise and Raymond.

They now have seven grandchildren, as well as seven great-grandchildren and another on the way. Mr Thornton said: “Marie has been a wonderful wife, a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.”

And sharing the secret to a long and happy marriage, he said: “We have always shared everything.

“We’ve always been together and always gone everywhere together. We wouldn’t have had it any other way.”