Weddings suffer as floods strike

A vicar hitched a lift on a tractor while a bride and groom decided to hire a helicopter as floods threatened to dampen several wedding parties.

In Shobdon, Herefordshire, the woman vicar's quick-thinking meant the service was able to go ahead.

The flying newly-weds had to wait for their guests who took a long detour from Bishops Frome to the reception.

In Colwall, near Malvern, Worcs, another wedding went ahead without groom's parents and many guests.

Takeaway pizzas

Charlotte Slocombe and Ben Andrew had waited an hour before the decision was taken to go ahead.

"They were unable to get to the reception in Much Marcle and after a two-hour stopover at the Malvern Hills Hotel sheltering from the torrential rain, a relay of 4x4s took the guests to the bride's parents home in Malvern," a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Hereford said.

"The reception was drink and nibbles from the local supermarket and 55 pizzas from a local takeaway at nine o'clock in the evening.

"Let's hope the couple are in a drier place for their honeymoon."

Elsewhere, in Wentnor, Shropshire, guests adjourned to the local pub to wait for Welsh visitors, including the bride's mother, before the wedding went ahead three hours late.