THEY waited over 40 years but Blackburn deputy mayor Tony Humphrys finally got the girl when he married teenage sweetheart Jaqueline Lonsdale.

And the couple's wedding was also extra special as it was the last to be held at Blackburn Town Hall's council chamber after ceremonies were transferred there during refurbishments at the town's register office.

Tony and Jaqueline, both in their 50s, first became engaged when they were 16, but, said Tony: "We fell out and I went off to join the Army.

"We met up again years later, but we had both got married, so it wasn't until about 10 years ago when we met again that our circumstances meant we could finally be together."

Tony said he and his new bride had decided to tie the knot as "we felt it was the right time.

"Our families had been badgering us to get married, so we just decided to go for it.

"There were no nerves on the day as it was something we had both been looking forward to."

And new bride Jaqueline added: "It is wonderful to finally be married. We have waited a long time for this day, over 40 years, and we are very happy."

The couple chose the council chambers as the setting for their wedding as the register office had closed temporarily for refurbishments.

Tony said: "We were supposed to get married at the register office and were going to hold the wedding after it had re-opened, but as we are deputy mayor and mayoress we felt it right to marry in the council chamber."

The ceremony, conducted by registrar Raymond Enshaw, was watched by the couple's nine children and 14 grandchildren, Blackburn-with-Darwen mayor Coun John Williams and mayoress Coun Sheila Williams, and family and friends.

Bridesmaids were Tony's granddaughter Jamie-Lee, 12, and Jaqueline's granddaughter, eight-year-old Jade, and witnesses were best man and Tony's friend of over 20 years John Tobera, and Jaqueline's son Stephen.

The couple then held a reception at St Stephen's Club, Little Harwood, followed by a disco in the evening.