Husband and wife have been on holiday to same seaside town every year since 1970

A devoted couple has travelled over 16,000 miles to celebrate their wedding anniversary in the same seaside town for the last 55 years.

Sue and Trevor Sherman have made an annual pilgrimage to Weston-super-Mare, Somerset since they honeymooned there in 1970.

Despite a 288-mile round trip and a two-and-a-half-hour journey from their Northamptonshire home, the pair have never missed a year. Last week, the couple marked their emerald wedding anniversary at their favourite coastal spot, vowing to continue the tradition as long as they can.

The Shermans love Weston-super-Mare for its consistent sunshine, even in cold weather, and insist there's "more to Weston than just donkeys."

Retired PR manager Sue, 73, said: "They said neither of us would make it because we were so young but here we are 55 years later. We have this celebration every year where we go back to Weston as it's where we went on our honeymoon."

For Sue, the attraction lies in happy childhood memories of summer holidays spent in the seaside town. "It was a magical place with sea, sand and a traditional British seaside.

"The surrounding countryside is glorious. When Trev and I married, it was his first visit to the area. Even though it's in March, we still go back. The sun is always shining. I still have family there and it's lovely. Weston has a lot going for it, it has its challenges but they're working hard and rejuvenating the old pier. There's a nice feeling of hope in the place.

"When I was a kid, people used to go to Weston for their health, standing buried up to their knees in the sand. You could go and have a Weston mud bath. We just love it and every time we come back we feel rejuvenated. It's cold but always sunny. The sunsets are incredible there, they're stunning. I'm always banging on about Weston. There's always something to do and, if not, walk along the prom and you'll soon find somebody lovely to talk to."

Sue, who has deep roots in Weston, reminisced about her cherished memories of the seaside town, including witnessing the Rolling Stones perform there when she was just a teenager in 1964. The couple also celebrates double joy on 14/3, with it being not only their wedding anniversary but also Trevor's birthday.

Concluding their joyful three-day visit last week, Sue and her husband joined relatives for a charming tea party at The Royal Hotel, followed by a jaunt to the Anchor Head pier.

Grandmother-of-two Sue continued: "Seaside holidays have gone out of vogue a bit, but it's still good. There's more to Weston than the donkeys. We stay in a hotel or with family sometimes. We just stayed in the Royal Hotel last time, we've stayed in over a number of hotels over the years.

"We can proudly say that we have visited Weston-super-Mare every year without fail - even during the Covid pandemic, we managed to squeeze in a trip just before it was announced," Sue added. "Sometimes we'll drop in when we're going somewhere else. I've got a cousin in Cornwall and we just drop by. We know where all the good places are and we love it. It was my first time going there after we got married.

"I love the area, I love the piers. Sue's got a real thing for Birnbeck Pier, which is being refurbished now, and that is an absolute joy for her that it's getting refurbished. Anywhere from Uphill to Sand Bay, all of it, I love it all. It is odd but I suppose it's cliché really, but the secret is being kind, having a sense of humour and being content with what you have - but the gin helps too."