Karam and Kartari Chand were teenagers when they were introduced in their native India – and now they have just celebrated their 86th wedding anniversary.

The couple, aged 106 and 99 respectively, got married back in 1925. The Guinness Book of Records is now said to be looking in to whether they are the UK’s, and possibly the world’s longest-wed, and oldest, married couple.

The couple, who have eight children, 27 grandchildren and more than ten great grandchildren, settled in Bradford more than 40 years ago.

Sitting on sofas in the sitting-room at the rear of the off-licence shop in Washington Street, Bradford, where the couple have lived for the past 30 years with their youngest son Sat Paul and his family, Mr and Mrs Chand defy their ages.

Other than wearing a hearing aid, Mr Chand certainly looks to be in good health, as does his wife.

As news of their anniversary spread, media interest in the couple has grown, yet they appear blissfully unaware of the buzz and excitement they have created.

“I haven’t seen their wedding photographs, but I’ve seen their photo all over the world!” laughs their proud daughter, Kaushalya Devi, who says “simple co-operation, patience and just getting along” has been the key to a long and happy marriage.

Kaushalya and the couple’s daughter-in-law, Rani, spoke of how the couple came to Bradford in the 1960s. They had married in India but, as their daughter recalls, because there wasn’t the technology there is now the couple don’t have any photographic records of their big day. There’s no doubt, though, it would have been a true family affair, as it is still evident how important their family is to them.

On a shelf in the corner of the sitting-room stands a large photo of a handsome young man – the couple’s late son Tarsem Lal, who they still miss dearly and who they say good morning and evening to every day.

The couple were born in a small rural village in the Punjab in Northern India. After settling in Bradford, Mr Chand worked in the mills.

According to their family, the couple were extremely hard-working. Through Rani’s translation, Mrs Chand says “hard work, honesty and prayer” is the secret to their long and happy marriage.

Together they have raised eight children, four sons and four daughters. Two of their sons live in India, and the other two in the UK, and two of their daughters live in India and two live in the UK. Although they are too old to make trips as regularly as they would like, the couple still get to visit their homeland with thier son Sat Paul.

All the siblings have done well in their careers, following in the footsteps of their hard-working parents. Their son Sodhi Ram, who gained a PHD degree at Leeds University, is now a controller of examination in the Punjab University in Chandigarh, India. Another son, Harbhajan Dass is a bank manager in India; Sat Paul runs the shop and the Castle Hotel in Bradford; grandson Dr Vijay Sodhi is a GP in Walsall, and another grandson Verinder Sodhi recently completed a marketing research degree at Bradford University.

“They have brought all their children up well,” says Kaushalya. “And we appreciate their hard work and we are continuing it,” she adds.

Eating a diet free from junk and based on pure ingredients, as it was in the days when they were growing up in rural India, is another explanation for the couple’s longevity, says Kaushalya.

“Everything is pure, nothing is artificial,” she says.

Sat Paul, 55, shares his sister’s pride at their parents’ achievement. “I am on top of the clouds,” he adds. “I am so proud our parents are that age and that they have achieved this, it is great.”

He says living with family has been a big support for his parents, and adds that looking after and cherishing their parents is a lesson everyone should learn.

Mr and Mrs Chand had an arranged marriage, which led to a long and happy life together.

Kaushalya echoes her brother’s sentiments that people should appreciate and look after their parents.

“I just wish everybody’s parents live as long and live a happy life,” she says.