A COUPLE have broken a UK record by celebrating their 79th wedding anniversary.

Childhood sweethearts Anne and Bert Ivison, have been together since they were 14 and married in Toxteth, Liverpool, on 1 March, 1924.

The 96-year-olds grew up in the same street and went to the same primary school.

The Guinness Book of Records currently lists the longest ongoing marriage in the country as 78 years.

Mr and Mrs Ivison have outlived their three children, but have four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mrs Ivison still wears a gold bracelet bought by her husband when the pair first started courting.

Current records show the longest ever marriage in the UK lasted 82 years and the longest in the world lasted 86 years.

Asked the secret of a happy marriage, Mrs Ivison said: "My advice is not to let one person be the boss in the relationship. You should both be level."

A spokeswoman for the Guinness Book of Records said that the Ivison's marriage would be a record - but stressed the facts would have to be verified.