THEY say you are never too old to find love - and two members of a Southampton Age Concern day centre have proved just that.

When 74-year-old Jimmy Etherington moved to the city last year he joined the Padwell Road day centre to enjoy the social activities. He never expected to find a wife.

But that was before Jimmy met Clara. The widower from Sunderland fell under the charms of 86-year-old Clara Smith and just 12 months later he had popped the question. The couple will be tying the knot in a few weeks' time.

Clara said: It wasn't really love at first sight. I didn't give him a second thought. It started about four months ago on the bus going home. I was sitting with my friend Grace and I always kiss her before I get off. Jimmy was sitting next to her and I said 'I suppose I had better give you a peck to.' "

Clara has been a widow for 32 years and is looking forward to becoming a wife, a stepmother and a step-great-grandmother all at once.

Centre manager Rae Curtis said that the happy couple had been acting like recycled teenagers.