A former Japanese Prisoner of War who is losing his sight has married his childhood sweetheart 55 years after he proposed.

Ted Yeaman, now 79, asked Elsie Ginger to marry him in 1945 in a letter written as he returned home from a camp where he had been held prisoner for nearly three years.

But his proposal came too late. Elsie thought he was dead and had married someone else.

Ted, who has lived in St Dunstan's, a home for blind ex-servicemen and women at Ovingdean, Brighton, for the past two years, said: "I was heartbroken but couldn't do anything about it.

"My friends and family had been told I was missing, presumed dead, for two years.

"We went on to live separate lives but I never stopped thinking about her."

This week, after waiting more than 50 years, he and Elsie finally wed.

Ted, whose first wife died ten years ago, had met her again after travelling from Sussex to his home town of Alnwick, Northumberland, to catch up with old friends.

He called Elsie, 79, who had been a widow for four years, to ask if he could see her again.

Ted said: "As soon as we met it was so easy. She was just as bubbly as I remembered her."

Four day later he returned to St Dunstan's where he had lived since his eyesight had started to fail.

He wasted no time and phoned Elsie in the evening to propose.

Jan Nash, who has looked after Ted at the Ovingdean home for the past two years, said: "When Ted got back he told me he was getting married. I didn't believe him. He told me Elsie was the first true love of his life."

Today, Jan will be Elsie's matron of honour in a blessing of the marriage held in the home's chapel.

They have already received the blessing of Ted's daughter and Elsie's two children.

A few days after the ceremony, Ted will leave Sussex to live with Elsie in Northumberland.

Like many PoWs his eyesight is deteriorating because of the malnutrition and mistreatment he suffered in the Japanese prison camp.

Jan said Ted was a true gentleman who would be greatly missed at the home.

She said: "Everyone loved him here. We are very sad to lose him but glad he has found happiness."