COACH passengers on a mystery weekend were given an extra surprise - when the driver stopped to get married!

David Howarth took guests to the wedding at Gretna Green after announcing his plans during a journey around southern Scotland.

All 45 passengers said they would love to accept when David asked if they would mind interrupting their weekend away to attend a wedding at Gretna Green.

What they did not realise until they arrived was that it was David's wedding!

A driver with CBT International, Waterfoot, for six years, David, of Hareholme Lane, Cloughfold, Rawtenstall, said: "I quite like Beatles music so you could say it turned out to be a magical mystery tour for me and my bride Laura.''

David, 26, and Laura Anderton, 19, have been together for two years and have a six-month-old son, Jack.

Laura works as an upholstery at Springvale Leather, Rawtenstall.

David said: "We picked up from the Rossendale Valley. Most of those on the trip were senior citizens and many of them have been with us many times and have become friends. "We stopped in Lockerbie on the Friday night. I just stood up at the evening meal and invited everyone to a wedding without saying whose wedding it was.

"The next day all 45 passengers were in attendance when Laura and I were married.''

David's boss Michael Churnside and his friend Caroline Dean were witnesses. It was Michael who first suggested the Gretna wedding.

Fellow driver Andrew Rayner made a video recording of the ceremony.

Immediately after the ceremony it was back to work for David driving the party to Dumfries.

But the drama did not end there. On the way the coach had a blow out and the three men still in their wedding clothes complete with buttonhole carnations were busy changing the wheel!

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