Pair who beat age gap to renew vows after 29 years

Yvonne Panter her husband Phil will renew their vows on her 64th birthday

Will you still need me... when I'm 64?

It is a question that millions of couples have sung to each other since the famous Beatles song was released in the 1960s.

Yvonne Panter and her husband Phil, from Bedworth, Warwickshire, have decided to take the lyrics literally this year, as they renew their vows to each other on her 64th birthday.

They will be one of many couples taking part in a mass renewal of vows at Coventry Cathedral on Valentine's Day, organised by BBC CWR.

They first met at work in Exhall in 1989 when Phil was 17 and Yvonne was 28.

Despite the age gap, they got married seven years later and are still happily married 29 years on.

"It was just an instant attraction," Yvonne said.

"At that point I was thinking he's really young so I tried to ignore it.

"We became friends, but there was a really strong attraction and it did not go away.

"We just gave in."

The couple are both season ticket holders at Coventry City, and Phil said renewing their vows at the cathedral, which features on the team's current third kit, would be a "lovely touch".

Yvonne and Phil got married in 1996, seven years after meeting

He signed up for the event without his wife's knowledge, but the secret was revealed on Monday as a band surprised Yvonne with a rendition of the famous Beatles tune, due to the event being held on her birthday.

"Yvonne's 29-year-old wedding ring has seen better days, so this will be a delightful excuse for me to buy her a new one, while at the same time reaffirming our love for each other," Phil said.

"I really do love Yvonne with all of my heart, so I'd love to be able to reaffirm our vows, put a new ring on her finger, and say we still do."

The couple will renew their vows at Coventry Cathedral along with other couples on 14 February.