A HUSBAND and wife approaching their 55th wedding anniversary are in line to become Britain's most romantic couple.

Harold and Marion Chapman keep their romantic life blossoming with cards, love poems and cooking - they ran fish and chip shops in and around the region for many years but are now retired.

Harold, 84, never forgets to send his wife a Valentine card and Marion has a passion for poetry. She was a regular writer in her younger days and still has a love for the written word.

In fact, she submitted a love poem, originally written for her husband when they first met, to a competition run by Asda stores to find the greatest lovers.

Both grew up in Oldham and met in a dancehall called Froggatt's. After marrying in April 1949, they worked together in fish and chip shops in Manchester before making their home in Burnley. They retired 17 years ago and moved to Accrington from Burnley in 1992.

Staff at the Accrington store judged the pair, of Milnshaw Gardens, Accrington, the best romantics in the town. On top of receiving vouchers and flowers from the store, their names have also been submitted for a national accolade, Britain's Most Romantic Couple.

"My husband's lovely," said Marion. "When you've worked and lived together for all these years, you need to be romantic. We occasionally fall out but never badly and we share everything."

Their son and daughter-in-law, Graham and Marie, live in Bacup, and have two children, Stephanie and Claire. Tonight, Harold and Marion intend to celebrate St Valentine's Day with a special meal of salmon and prawns - but chips are off the menu.

"I think we'll have boiled potatoes. I'm watching my weight," Marion quipped.