COUPLES married for 70 years have celebrated their "rare achievement".

Bernard and Barbara Holloway, who live in Three Legged Cross, and James and Betty Rush, of Verwood, enjoyed a special afternoon tea hosted by East Dorset District Council chairman Councillor Derek Burt earlier this month.

Cllr Burt had called for couples reaching their platinum anniversary this year to come forward.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh marked the milestone in November.

Mr and Mrs Holloway were married at the Minster church in Wimborne. They were accompanied to the tea at Allendale House by their daughter.

“It doesn’t seem like we’ve been married 70 years at all," Mrs Holloway said.

"Time has passed very quickly."

The couple celebrated their anniversary with a family barbecue. They also received a card from the Queen to congratulate them.

Mrs Rush was unable to join her husband at the tea due to ill health. However, Mr Rush said he was pleased to spend the afternoon with another couple married in 1947.

"It was a lovely day when we got married," he said.

"I have to be honest and say I don't remember the royal wedding at all. I was more interested in my own!"

Mr Rush took his future wife to Leicester Square for their first date.

Cllr Burt said it was a "great privilege" to have hosted the party.

"Seventy years of marriage is a rare achievement, so it was an honour to hear their stories."

Cllr Burt and his wife were joined by the council's deputy chair, Cllr Toni Coombes, Verwood mayor Cllr Lindsey Dedden and Mr Alan Dedden for the event.