Police cells stay for newlyweds

A County Durham couple spent their wedding night in police cells.

Harry and Claire Arnold, from Coxhoe, were married at Durham Register Office on 10 August and later their twin sons, aged two-and-a-half, were christened.

After celebrations, they were arrested at a bus station for being drunk and disorderly after a row with a security guard who asked them to stop smoking.

The custody sergeant gave them a caution rather than a fixed penalty notice as it was their wedding day.

The bride said: "Both the ceremonies went really well.

Because it was their wedding day the custody sergeant decided they should both receive a caution Durham Police

"But it was a nightmare wedding night. I was crying my eyes out. I was devastated.

"The police said 'we've never had a bride and groom in before'."

She was allowed home in the early hours of the next morning and her husband was released later.

A Durham Police spokesman said: "They took exception to being asked by a security guard to refrain from smoking inside the bus station.

"Eventually police were called and they were arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

"They were taken to the city police station and admitted the offence.

"They could have been issued with £80 fixed penalty notices but because it was their wedding day the custody sergeant decided they should both receive a caution."