A VICAR and his wife celebrated their silver wedding anniversary by renewing their wedding vows alongside 40 other couples.

Canon Michael Ratcliffe, vicar of St Paul's, Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle proved that love was still very much in the air in East Lancashire.

Michael and wife Carol said they were thrilled that 160 people filled their church to share their day to renew their vows. Mrs Ratcliffe said at the service yesterday: "It has been terrific to share this day with so many friends and family, it has been quite an emotional day."

The usual Sunday service, normally attended by about 80, ended with the ceremony where couples held hands and said their vows together.

One couple, married for four and a half years, said they had refound their faith after the service.

Valerie, 58, and Tom Martin, 68, had stopped going to church after losing family members and friends.

But Mrs Martin, of Mount Pleasant Street, said: "Today was so special to share this with so many people it has made me realise what church is all about."

And Alison, 41 and Kevin Ashworth, 49, of Conway Drive, said: "It highlights the good in marriage in a society where you often hear the negatives." Joan Clark, 65, of Yew Tree Drive, a reader at St Paul's with her husband David, 67, said: "It has been absolutely superb, there is nothing like it."

The service had a modern day sermon, using puppets, performed by Mrs Ratcliffe and other members of the congregation.

She said: "It has been such a lovely day and it has gone just as well as we expected."