A couple have made history by becoming the first husband and wife captain and lady captain at Workington Golf Club.

The landmark was reached as John Atkinson was voted in as club captain a week after wife Barbara became took on the same role within the ladies' section.

And it is a double celebration for the couple, coming in the year that they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

Originally from Carlisle, John got into golf in 1987. He said: "All the people I associated with were golfers. Someone said, 'Why don't you have a game?' so I had a few lessons and joined the club."

He plays two or three times a week, taking part in a lots of competitions, and describes himself as an average golfer.

Originally from Carlisle, the couple moved to Croydon in 1967, where John got into the sport, before returning to Cumbria in 2002.

They ran the Miners Arms at Prospect until 2008 and now live in nearby Oughterside.

John played for Maryport Golf Club for five years before joining Workington Golf Club in 2007.

Barbara took up the sport seven years ago, having beginner lessons at Distington Golf Course while John had improvement sessions.

She said: "He'd asked me for donkey's years, 'Why don't you take up golf?' I said, 'It's not for me.' Then one day I weakened and said, 'Okay then.'

"You make good friends playing golf and it's good exercise and a good social life."

The couple will spend a year in office as captains, representing the club at events at their home club and elsewhere.

John said: "I feel really proud representing Workington Golf Club. It's a very big club. I'd say it's one of the best clubs in the county.

"It's nice to have something extra to celebrate in our 50th anniversary year."

Barbara, who has previously served as secretary of the ladies' section, said: "It's exciting and a bit daunting. It's the kind of thing you expect people to do when they've been members for donkey's years and worked their way up.

"It's quite unusual. There aren't many clubs that seem to have had a husband and wife team."

John's vice-captain is Rob Wilson, while Christine Reed is the new lady vice-captain.