A 91-YEAR-OLD couple have given their advice to young couples on Valentine's Day.

Hearts were melted at a Salisbury care home when couples celebrated the day of love with a special event.

The team at Care UK’s Salisbury Manor, on Shapland Close, decorated the home with heart-shaped balloons, roses and banners ahead of the very special celebration.

The home’s head chef prepared a special menu for the heart-warming occasion, which included, cumin-roasted cauliflower and chickpea soup to start, followed by homemade fish and chips and the meal was finished off with homemade cheesecake for dessert.

Salisbury Journal: Ray and Barbara have been married for 68 yearsRay and Barbara have been married for 68 years (Image: Care UK)

One of the loved-up couples at the dinner party was Barbara and Ray Thomas, both aged 91 who have been married for 68 years.

When asked what advice they’d give to younger couples, Barbara said: "Hold your tongue, marry the right chap and think everything through first."

Ray added: "Be kind and always listen."

The couple met through a friend of a friend, but it wasn’t until Ray’s cousin's wedding that Barbara thought Ray was "alright".

Salisbury Journal: Ray and Barbara's wedding photoRay and Barbara's wedding photo (Image: Care UK)

They had their first date in 1954, when they went to a beautiful park and chatted for hours. They married on 23rd June 1956 at St Martin’s Church in Hereford.

Together, they have three have three children, Richard, Venetia and Lucy.

Skye Williams, General Manager at Salisbury Manor, said: "It was wonderful to celebrate Barbara and Ray’s 68 years of marriage as well as all the other couples at Salisbury Manor this Valentine’s Day.

"We could all learn a thing or two from their happy marriages.

"We’d like to thank Barbara and Ray for sharing their story – happy Valentine’s Day to the incredible couple."