DEVOTED couple Jim and Margaret Entwisle don't believe opposites attract - they should know after more than 78 years of a `marriage made in heaven'.

The Chorley couple credit the success of one of the longest marriages ever recorded to an almost telepathic understanding and shared love of dancing.

Margaret, who has just celebrated her 100th birthday, said: "I was only 17 or 18 when I met Jim and I never thought I'd stick it. We did nearly finish it once."

Jim, 101, said: "We have done fantastic to get where we are. I think it has been so successful because we both think alike.

"We don't really know how we have done it. Nobody could have had a better life. We have always been very satisfied."

They married at St Gregory's Church, Chorley, in 1929, after a four-year courtship.

Jim said: "I first saw Margaret when I was friends with her brother.

"I asked him who the girl in the corner was and he said: 'That's our Maggie, she's a good 'un.' And he was right!

Honeymoon

"We were married on the Saturday and back to work on the Monday. There was no time for honeymoons in those days."

Margaret said of her wedding day: "I told my mother not to spend her money on a wedding dress as Jim had bought me a smart dress for a ball.

"It was pale green but I didn't really like it as it was short and showed too much leg."

They went dancing regularly, at one point going four nights a week. Jim said: "The biggest mistake we made was stopping dancing. We should have carried on till we dropped."

The couple had a daughter, Pauline, who died aged 56, and have three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

All of their family and friends returned to St Gregory's earlier this month to celebrate Margaret's 100th birthday, raising £800 for charity.

As well as telegrams from the Queen for reaching 100, Jim and Margaret have received blessings from Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.