BRIDE Carole Webster's big day proved to be an extra special reunion -- when she was given away by the father she had not seen for more than 20 years.

For Carole and Barrie Webster, of Richmond Road, Accrington, the path down the aisle was full of twists and turns.

The couple's plans of a dream wedding in Sri Lanka were scuppered when the ceremony was cancelled because of civil unrest in the country.

Forced to rearrange quickly, Barrie and Carole, both 43, decided to tie the knot at Heptonstall Methodist Church, built in 1764 and thought to be the world's oldest Methodist chapel, but were unable to let everyone know because of the shortage of time.

After the disappointment of Sri Lanka, Carole, an IT teacher at Accrington and Rossendale College, was delighted when Barrie told her two weeks before the wedding that he had managed to track down her long-lost father Ralph Thornber to give her away.

She had not seen him since her parents split up when she was 18-years-old.

Barrie, a photographer, revealed how he had turned detective to spring the surprise on his bride, finding Mr Thornber's telephone number on the internet and working with his wife Myrna to re-unite the pair in a telephone call.

"I thought months ago wouldn't it be brilliant if I tracked him down and asked him if he would give Carole away without her knowing" said Barrie.

"It was brilliant, magic. It's brilliant watching them together because they have got so much to catch up on." Mr Thornber, a swimming instructor, of Waterfoot, Rossendale, said: "All of sudden I got a phone call asking me to give her away which I was very pleased to do.

"I was very surprised . It's a lifetime gone by. We are trying to pick up the pieces but it's a long time to make up."

And there was even more reason to celebrate when Carole discovered that her wedding day coincided with his 65th birthday and retirement.

After overcoming one final obstacle -- getting lost on the way to the church -- Carole finally made it down the aisle with her proud dad by her side, and the couple, who have been together for 18 months, exchanged vows watched by a handful of close friends and family before jetting of to Goa for their honeymoon.

"It was absolutely brilliant," said Carole.

"I hadn't seen my dad for more than 20 years and Barrie traced him for me. It was very emotional -- he said he would never let me go now."