Wedding business boom

There are over 100 places licensed for weddings in North Yorkshire

The Selby area of North Yorkshire is becoming an increasingly popular place in which to get married.

Since 1 April 2003, there have been 300 civil ceremonies - a 20% increase on the same period last year.

The vast majority of couples choose to get married in one of the venues licensed by the county council rather than in a register office.

These venues include hotels such as Hazelwood Castle, Carlton Towers and Monk Fryston Hall.

North Yorkshire County Council has been heavily marketing the county as a place in which to be married as a way of bringing money into the local economy.

Many of the couples who tie the knot in North Yorkshire come from neighbouring counties or even further afield.

It is estimated that each wedding brings an average of £8,000 to local businesses.