IT was a definite case of love at first listen for John and Ruth Bowling when they met more than 30 years ago at the Wharfedale Music Festival in Ilkley.

In fact, Mr Bowling, 60, fell for his bride before he'd even laid eyes on her, so taken was he with her beautiful singing voice.

On that fateful day in 1970, he had travelled to the festival from York with his mother - as he did every year. Standing outside the King's Hall, he heard the voice which was to change his life forever and the rest, as they say, is history.

At the weekend the couple, returning to Ilkley - and to the festival - to celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary, spoke about their extraordinary meeting.

"I'd gone out for a break during an oratorio class at the King's Hall when I heard this voice singing an aria," said Mr Bowling. "I was absolutely knocked out by it. She had such a lovely voice - it was mesmerising. There were lots of people outside the door waiting to get in. I was so anxious to get in and find her. I kept asking 'who is singing, who is singing'."

When the competition had finished he rushed into the hall to try to find the girl with the golden voice.

"She was coming down off the stage," he said. "I made a beeline for her and said 'I think your singing was absolutely terrific'. I fell for her voice and I fell for her straight away. We just clicked."

Mrs Bowling, 50, was equally smitten. "I remember it so well," she said. "It was a terrible day, pouring with rain and I kept thinking 'should I have come'. I am so glad I did. It was just as though it was supposed to happen."

The couple quickly discovered that they lived within three miles of one another in York and shared a life-long passion for music.

They began courting, and Mrs Bowling, a semi-professional singer, decided to give up her musical ambitions to get married. The happy couple wed on May 10, 1975 and have three children - Simon-Peter, 25, Tim, 21, and 18-year-old Philip.

On Saturday evening, they attended the final gala concert of this year's festival and were presented with a bouquet of flowers. "Ilkley is where I met my future wife so it's very special," said Mr Bowling.

Festival secretary Elizabeth Holbrook said: "Mr Bowling rang me asking for a programme and it came out in conversation about how they'd met. They had a wonderful evening."