A BRIDE was moved to tears when she emerged from church to find her pony dressed up in rosettes and sashes to greet her.

Colette Hopkins knew that after she was married to Neil Rishton, from Mellor, at St Wulstan's Church, Great Harwood, the Thwaites shire horses would be waiting to take them to the reception.

She did not know that her mother had also arranged for her own pony Becky to be waiting outside.

Colette, 25, loves horses and has been riding since she was five years old.

She has entered many show jumping competitions and Becky has recently qualified for the Hickstead international show.

Neil's father is chief shireman at Thwaites brewery and arranged for the gig to take them to Memorial Park for photographs and then to Colette's home at Portfield Farm, Whalley, for a reception in a marquee.

Her mother Mrs Madeleine Hopkins said: "She was very surprised about her own horse being there.

"I don't think she saw it at first but then Neil said 'Look there's Becky'.

"I think a few tears came into her eyes."

The couple have now gone to Scotland for their honeymoon.

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