UPTON bride Bev Richardson was in a whirl on Friday when her husband-to-be arranged for a helicopter to take her to their wedding.

The helicopter landed on Upton Playing Fields, then transported her to Puckrup Hall in Tewkesbury for the ceremony and reception.

Bridegroom and Upton town councillor Paul Thomas said: "It's something she's always wanted to do."

Bev's daughters Laura, aged 13, and Amy, nine, were bridesmaids and also flew to the ceremony.

Paul hired the helicopter from a company that advertised at a wedding fair and also booked a limo to take the bride from her Lawnside Close home to the playing fields.

Originally, he wanted the helicopter to land outside the Hill Centre, but the landowners, Malvern Hills District Council, refused permission.

Fortunately, the playing fields belong to Upton Town Council, which agreed to the landing.

The couple first met at Hanley Castle Cricket Club, when Bev was serving teas and Paul was playing cricket. They got together about four years ago.

Instead of wedding presents, they asked for donations to Cancer Research UK, because Bev's late husband and her daughters' father, Maurice, died from the disease.

The day after the ceremony at Puckrup Hall, the newlyweds travelled to Lanzorote for their honeymoon.