Husband in Britain's longest married couple dies aged 101

One half of Britain's longest married couple has died, a nursing home confirmed today.

Frank Milford, who was married to Anita for 81 years, died at midday yesterday at the Warwick Park Nursing Home in Plymouth, Devon.

The couple, both 101 years old, met at a YMCA dance and married at Torpoint Register Office in Cornwall on May 26, 1928.

A spokeswoman for the home said Mr Milford died peacefully with his wife at his side.

She said: "She is obviously upset but coping very well."

The Milfords lived in Plymouth throughout the Blitz on the city during the Second World War and they twice had lucky escapes.

Mr Milford, speaking earlier this year, explained that their children were evacuated and luckily they were visiting their son when a bomb hit their bungalow.

Mr Milford also had a second close encounter when a bomb hit Devonport Dockyard while he was on a night shift and blew up the sea wall close to where he was working.

Mr Milford's 76-year-old son, who is also called Frank, told BBC News his mother was holding his father's hand when he died.

He said: "For the past three weeks or so he hasn't been eating or drinking and I think we all realised he was ready to die.

"He knew it was his time and I think he simply died of old age."

The couple have two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.