A DEVOTED couple turned back time at an East Renfrewshire care home to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary...by dancing to the same first song and using the same knife to cut their cake as they did five decades ago.

John and Louise Scullion, who tied the knot on October 28, 1972, were surrounded by family and friends as they marked 50 years of wedded bliss.

And memories came flooding back as the happy couple took centre stage to dance to Lara’s Theme, from multi-Oscar winning film Dr Zhivago, just as they had at their reception half a century ago.

John now lives in Newton House Care Home, in Newton Mearns, with Louise paying regular visits from her home in the south side of Glasgow.

The pair spent most of their married lives in Johnstone, where they stayed for more than 30 years when John worked in Paisley as a former industrial chemist, while Louise worked as an area manager, supplying supermarkets and managing a large team of people.

Both aged 75, they have two children and five grandchildren.

When asked about the secret to their happy marriage, Louise said it is all down to showing patience and "acceptance of each other’s differences."

The golden wedding celebrations took place at Newton House Care Home, with staff joining in the fun.

Marianne Fernandez-Faichney, wellbeing and lifestyle coach at Newton House, run by Hamberley Care Homes, said: “Staff helped Louise set the lounge up for the event and include all of the residents in the celebration.

“It was so lovely to see the couple celebrate such a special benchmark. We all thought it was delightful that Louise had kept the very same knife they used to cut their wedding cake 50 years ago.”