A Thringstone couple who found love over 50 years after their first date have been separated after the death of one of the partners almost 15 years after their reunion.

Keith Timson and Pamela Spence reconnected in 2007 after Mrs Spence had been hospitalised following a brief illness.

The pair had been a couple growing up in Thringstone and at Broom Leys school before going their separate ways.

Pamela later married and had three children before being widowed, Keith remained a bachelor.

Sadly Keith, a former coal miner, died last month at Glenfield Hospital after a battle with lung disease.

Pamela said: "I was in hospital when Keith phoned and told me that he had heard I was poorly and couldn't let anything happen to me without telling me how he had always felt.

"It was lovely. He had held a candle for me since school days and had never married.

"After that we were inseparable. Keith moved in, we travelled all over the world and he became the only grandad my grandchildren had ever known.

"Of course I will miss Keith dearly but I'm so grateful for the fifteen years we had together. Who would have thought after being apart for so long you would find love together at our time of life?"

Mr Timson also leaves a brother, two sisters and nieces and nephews.