A VICAR is praying that the couple at the centre of a "blind date" wedding will surprise the nation and have a long and happy marriage.

The Rev Rodney Nicholson, of St Paul's Church, Low Moor, Clitheroe, said in his parish magazine that Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell were "foolish" to take part in the Birmingham wedding.

But he said he hoped "against all the odds" that the publicity stunt marriage worked out for them.

The notorious newlyweds were picked from more than 200 people who entered the Two Strangers and a Wedding competition run by Birmingham radio station BRMB.

Their prize was an all-inclusive honeymoon in the Bahamas, a year's free use of a £200,000 flat and a sports car.

The event was attacked by leading churchmen across the country, including the Provost of Blackburn, the Very Rev David Frayne, who branded it an "irresponsible publicity stunt."

But Mr Nicholson said in his parish magazine that he hoped the couple would eventually grow to "love and respect each other."

And the Low Moor vicar said bookings for traditional wedding ceremonies at his church were on the up after a decline in recent years.

"The couple in Birmingham were foolish to marry in the way that they did. Nevertheless, we hope against all the odds that things do work out for them and that they grow to love and respect each other and surprise everyone with a marriage that lasts a lifetime," he said.

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