A COUPLE celebrating their golden wedding anniversary asked for donations to help disabled British soldiers rather than accept presents from guests.

Del and Jackie Walker, of Cole Green House, Hyde Valley, WGC, raised �1,560 for Help for Heroes, a charity supporting soldiers who have been wounded in recent conflicts.

Royal Marine Joe Townsend, who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan last year, attended the couple’s 50th anniversary on Saturday (September 26), at the QE2 Sports and Social Club, in WGC, collecting the money on the charity’s behalf.

Del, 74, said: “We really wanted to mark our special day by doing something for the soldiers who have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Even if the money is going to help one soldier it will be worth it.”

Mr Townsend, 21, had Prime Minister Gordon Brown intervene in February after his local council in Sussex refused permission to have his grandfather’s bungalow specially adapted to his needs.

The marine is one of a number of soldiers based at Headley Court in Surrey, the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre which has featured in the new BBC TV series Wounded.

The Walkers met in 1957 while both working at the Ardath Tobacco Company based on Broadwater Road, marrying two years later.

The couple have lived in WGC for 52 years and have two children, twins Sally and Andrew, as well as five grandchildren.