NEWLYWEDS who planned their big day in a week so the ill father-of-the-bride could be present tied the knot earlier today.

Trevor and Kate Mouring [née Mitchell] declared their vows to each other in front of a packed conservatory at the Duchess of Kent Hospice.

Mrs Mouring's father, Roger, was admitted to the hospice earlier this month, but he was able to travel along the aisle hand in hand with his daughter.

The 66-year-old said: "All I can say is that it means everything to me. The fact that I am still here and my only daughter is getting married, what can you say?

"It's the perfect day."

He described his daughter as "simply stunning" and said he was thrilled to welcome Mr Mouring to his family.

The couple had just seven days to prepare for the wedding, and the only thing they had ready this time last week was a wedding dress.

But staff from the hospice stepped in to help arrange the big occasion in front of their families, and the local parish vicar took charge of the ceremony on his day off.

The room filled with thunderous applause after the marriage was declared, and the happy couple took to the garden for a confetti shower.

Speaking after the ceremony, the new Mrs Mouring, 33, said: "It feels great to be married, the hospice have been amazing.

"It is the most important thing to me to have my dad here, we would not have done it if he was not going to be here.

"We were planning on getting married in a church but we were umming and ahhing how dad would get there."

Family members from as far away as Exeter travelled to the Leibenrood Road hospice to surprise the happy couple, from Chievely.

They have not yet had a chance to sit down and plan the honeymoon.

Anita Millson, mother of the bride, added: "Kate's ambition was always to have her father walking her up the aisle.

"If it was not for the hospice this would not have happened today."

For more and all the pictures grab a copy of this week's Chronicle on Thursday.