Wedding venue to be pulled down

The marquee must be taken down to make way for a new road

Six Kent couples say they have been left devastated after a council decided to redevelop the venue for their forthcoming weddings.

The couples had all hired a permanent marquee inside Acacia Hall in Dartford, for their nuptials but the company who owns it has been told to pull it down.

Bride-to-be Cara Hutton said her dream wedding had been ruined by the plans.

Dartford Borough Council insisted the company has had plenty of notice and its plans will improve public services.

It has bought the land using a compulsory purchase order and plans to build a road through the site as part of the Dartford's regeneration project.

Cara Hutton said her dream day had been ruined by the plans

But Ms Hutton said she and her finance Adam White were left "absolutely devastated".

The young couple from Grovehurst Road in Dartford, said they had set their hearts on having their wedding at the marquee.

"When you're a little girl you dream about your wedding, what you want and how you want it and that's what we both wanted."

Marquee owner Paul Shed said it had been difficult dealing with so many distressed brides.

"We've had hundreds of happy brides and this is the first time we've experienced this and it's devastating," he said.