COUPLES who plan to marry tomorrow will be given the chance to pay their respects to the Princess of Wales.

Registrars across East Lancashire have stressed that wedding arrangements will go ahead according to couples' wishes as most of the nation is expected to come to a standstill as a mark of respect at 11am. Although a large number of ceremonies have been booked throughout the day tomorrow, there are just a couple of weddings due to take place exactly at 11am.

Blackburn's superintendent registrar Ray Enshaw said: "I will give the couple and their guests an opportunity to either set the ceremony back for a short time so that they can observe the silence before the wedding begins, or they may wish to include it in the proceedings.

"We have to go along with the couple's wishes.

"We have had a small number of inquiries to make sure the office is open on Saturday as normal and, of course, we have to realise that preparations and planning for some of the weddings may have been going on for many months."

Hyndburn Register Office is fully booked for tomorrow, with one wedding set for 11am.

A spokesman there said the final arrangements would be made with the couple on the day.

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