A couple were left in tears when they were handed the bill at a restaurant after they told their story to a waiter.

Dawn and Paul Molineux were celebrating their golden wedding anniversary at Hickory’s Smokehouse in Southport, Merseyside.

“When you book the table they asked if it was something special, so we put down that it was our anniversary. When they seated us they had put down a sign celebrating our anniversary,” Paul, 68, said.

Their waiter James then asked the couple about their anniversary and they told him how they first met in high school.

After sharing details about their marriage, they ended up telling him that Paul has terminal cancer and has only a few months left to live.

The couple then burst into tears when they received the bill, which came with a sweet note wishing them a ‘happy anniversary.’

“When he put the bill down we opened it and it said happy anniversary, the bill is on us. It was an 80 quid bill too,” Paul expressed.

“I just saw the look on my wife’s face from across the table and thought have they got this wrong. She more or less broke into tears. We were gobsmacked. We had to go and find the bloke. We said you’re joking aren’t you?” Paul continued.

Paul and Dawn, who have three children, are planning to throw a party to make the most of their time while the patriarch is still with them.

“I can honestly say in those 50 years the amount times we’ve fallen out I can count on one hand,” Paul continued.

“It is difficult with the diagnosis, but we laugh about it.”

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your friends and family!