BARNARD Castle Town Council stepped in to help save a couple’s special day when witnesses couldn’t attend the ceremony.
Wedding party numbers have been reduced in the latest coronavirus measures, which has led to problems for many brides and grooms with forthcoming nuptials.
However, it was a lack of guests that caused a problem for happy couple Chris and Susan Willcock, from Essex, as they set about tying the knot at Barnard Castle registrar’s office last week.
The couple, who planned a low-key event, felt they had no option but to call off the ceremony when their two witnesses couldn’t attend at the very last minute.
With no one else in attendance to step in, they were about to cancel when the registrar made a phone call to the town council’s offices in nearby Woodleigh.
Council clerk Martin Clark said: “We took a call from the registrar asking if we knew of anyone that might know someone. The mayor and the council gave us their blessing to step in.”
He and colleague, Yvette Cooper, offered to be the couple’s witnesses.
He added: “Chris had only recently had a triple bypass and Barnard Castle and the area is very special to both of them, so it was a pleasure to save the day.”
