A PETERSFIELD couple who met 30 years ago on Boxing Day happily tied the knot on Christmas Eve.

Donna Larby (45) and Mike Lawty (51) first met on December 26, 1986, and since then they have gained four daughters and eight grand-children.

For the past four years the couple have lived at Borough Grove, and on Christmas Eve they were wed at Winchester Registry Office.

Donna, the registered manager at Stroud House care home, said: “We met when I was still at school, and we have been together ever since.

“The wedding was certainly worth waiting for, although we had hoped to get married on Boxing Day, but sadly the registry office wasn’t open.”

She and Mike, who works for the Home Office, and friends and family celebrated their marriage with a reception at the Seven Stars pub, just over the road from the care home.

On Christmas Day the couple and their “massive” family got together again.

Donna said: “Mike and I decided we wouldn’t go away until the end of February – my son-in-law offered to cook Christmas dinner,

“We don’t know where to go yet, other than that’s it’s going to be somewhere hot.”