THEIR union hit the headlines throughout the world and they faced a barrage of hateful remarks - but through it all their love stayed strong.

June (nee Tull) and Heinz Fellbrich received two sackloads of hate mail after they married in 1947 and June's own mother gave the marriage only six months.

Their wedding day turned into a media scrum as the world's photographers tried to get their snap of the first British woman to marry a German prisoner of war.

And their wedding night ended promptly at 10pm when 26-year-old Heinz had to report back to his camp in Highfield, Southampton, forced to kiss his 19-year-old bride goodnight over the camp fence.

But even with the world against them, the couple from Eastleigh have proved that love does conquer all as they celebrate their diamond wedding with their six children, 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The pair met while Heinz was being held at the Highfield prisoner of war camp in Southampton in early 1947 when June spotted him standing by a hut.

June, 79, said: "I saw him and said to my friends, Cor he is gorgeous, I fancy him' and with that we were introduced and it developed from there.

"It was so exciting because Heinz had to tunnel his way in and out of the camp at night to meet me.

"My whole family and friends were totally against us and they were all very hateful but you can't help who you fall in love with and that opposition just made us stronger."

As soon as Prime Minister Clement Attlee made it legal for a British woman to marry a German prisoner of war the couple immediately applied for a licence and were married at the Civic Centre in Southampton.

Heinz, 86, said: "The story was so big that it was reported in Switzerland and Germany and this was how my family, who I had not been able to contact for ten years, found out that I had survived the war.

"We have had 60 wonderful years and we love each other just as much as we did back then. While at war I never thought I would have such a great life. We have been so happy."