A STRONG and active family life is the secret to the amazing longevity of a Bradford couple who could be Britain's longest married husband and wife.

Karam Chand and wife Kartari were married in a Sikh ceremony in the Punjab in 1925 during the height of the British Raj and when it took six weeks to reach India via the Suez Canal.

He was born in 1905 into a farming family and is now 109.

His bride Kartari was born in the same district in 1912 and is now 102 and they have been married an astonishing 89 years this December.

Yesterday, a huge family celebration of their joint ages was held at the Carlisle Business Centre, Manningham, attended by Bradford's deputy mayor Roger L'Amie, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire David Pearson and Fazal Hussain MBE, on behalf of the Muslim community.

All paid tribute to the couple with Cllr L'Amie offering best wishes on behalf of Bradford for what he called "a remarkable feat".

The Deputy Lord Lieutenant remarked on what changes in the world the pair had witnessed, not just during their lives in the Punjab, but also after moving to Bradford when Mr Chand was already 60 years old.

Mr Pearson also passed on a personal message of congratulation to the Chands from Her Majesty the Queen.

Mr Chand's son Paul said how his parents were both physically and mentally active, which he put down to their tough physical lives when younger and also continuing to live with family.

"My parents came to Bradford in 1965 and he did hard work in the woollen mills after a lifetime before that as a farmer.

"But the main thing is because we don't believe in putting old people in homes, they live with me and my wife and we include them in everything.

"For example if any decision has to be taken, we still go to my father because he is the head of the family.

"That's what keeps them young in their hearts and minds," Mr Chand said.

He added that his father has just given up his habit of one cigarette a day, but still enjoys a little tot of whisky occasionally.

"It's good for him it seems!" Mr Chand said.

Their family now consists of four generations with a huge family tree stretching down from Mr and Mrs Chand and including some 30 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren.

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