ONE hundred and fifty years of married life may sound like a long time ? but that is precisely what three West Devon brothers have clocked up between them.

Reg Kingsland from Copplestone recently celebrated his golden wedding anniversary with wife Hazel, joining a special club, whose members include his brothers Ron and John.

Between them the three brothers have now been married for a total of 157 years.

Ron explained: ?I am the eldest and was the first to get married.? Ron and Dorothy, who live at Chagford have been married for 54 years.

More extraordinary still was that Ron and Reg actually married two sisters, so Dorothy and Hazel have never had any trouble getting on with each other.

John and Winnie, who live at Murchington, near Chagford, have been married for 53 years.

The two younger brothers had their weddings at Providence Chapel, Throwleigh, although Ron and Dorothy were married at South Tawton Church. Ron said different vicars conducted each of the services.

Reg and Hazel recently held a party at Throwleigh Village Hall to celebrate the anniversary, with 60 or 70 family members.

Ron said the brothers came from a large family, ten brothers and sisters in total, nine of whom are still alive.

Ron said the three brothers had always been ?very close?. They had always lived fairly close together, had all worked in agriculture or gardening and were ?very much similar characters?.

?It is quite unusual I suppose for three brothers to all be married for 50 years,? he added.

RIGHT: Left to right, Ron and Dorothy Kingsland, Reg and Hazel Kingsland and Winnie and John Kinglsand at Throwleigh?s Providence Methodist Chapel.