BLUSHING bride Emma Fairclough's wedding was a real community affair.

She put her best foot forward and walked to the church!

Emma covered the threequarters of a mile from her home in Christleton Close, Harle Syke, to nearby St James' Church, Briercliffe, to marry Darren Hosker, of Blackburn.

The wedding party caused heads to turn and passers-by gave the bride their best wishes as she took 'shanks's pony' to the marriage ceremony.

"It started as a bit of a joke because whenever we go to church, we walk," said her mum Ann.

"We thought, why not walk to the wedding? It will be lovely - and Emma was really glad she did.

"Neighbours turned out to cheer her on and everyone stood outside the church to watch her walk down the road.

"It was wonderful. Emma said she felt like a queen."

Emma, the daughter of Ann and Francis Fairclough, of Christleton Close, is an administrative assistant at Nelson and Colne College.

Mr Hosker, the son of Tommy and Barbara Neville, is a fibre glass laminator.

She was attended by Kerry and Tracey McEvoy, Linda Fairclough and Amanda Coates. Page boy was Lewis Fairclough.

Best man was the bride's brother, Steven Fairclough, and the bride was given away by her father.

The ceremony was followed by a reception at The Friendly Hotel, Burnley, and the couple spent their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.

They plan to live in Blackburn.

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