QUICK-thinking bank staff saved a wedding after the groom collapsed in their branch a day before the ceremony.

Paul Whitney, 58, a company director from Waddington, had been walking to the Skipton Building Society, in King William Street, Blackburn, when he began to feel unwell.

The previous day he had been diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot on his lungs, but was still well enought to be out and about.

However, as he got to the branch he had trouble breathing, found it difficult to move, and was in great pain.

He said: “I was walking along King William Street to the Skipton to sort out some mortgage paperwork when it came on me all of a sudden.

“I got to the building society and I was completely floored.

“The girls in there sat me down and got me a glass of water. I needed some pain killers and one of them ran to the nearest chemist to get some for me.”

During the comotion, Mr Whitney’s fiancee Kathleen, 53, forgot where the car was parked and was accompanied by financial adviser Wesley Seale through the streets to find it.

They drove the car to the front of the shop, and Mr Whitney was eventually able to get into the back and was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital, He said: “They told me that because the correct medication had been administered it avoided what could have developed into an emergency situation.

“If this had been the case, I would have been admitted to A & E and kept in overnight for observation, meaning I could miss the wedding.

“I firmly believe that the prompt action of the people at the Skipton saved our wedding day.

“They went beyond the call of duty.”

Paula Hall, mortgage adviser at the branch, was one of the staff who helped Mr Whitney during the incident at 3.30pm on Friday.

She said: “We have known Mr Whitney for a long time and he is a very funny, nice man.

“But it was apparent when he came in on Friday that he was not well at all.

"He was in terrible pain and his face was completely white.

“We got him a bottle of water and Michelle Riddehough, our customer adviser, went to get the painkillers for him.

“She says she’s never run as fast in her life as she did that day!

“We do like to look after our customers and when Mr Whitney brought in a bunch of flowers and a card to say thank you, we all had a tear in our eye.

“We’re glad that we were able to save his wedding day.”