THE marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton is unlikely to see a repeat of the jubilant scenes that greeted the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981.

But the scale of media coverage since the couple announced they would marry on April 29 shows it will still be one of the biggest events in recent years.

That is why the day has been declared a public holiday.

But it appears many firms are set to turn party-poopers in East Lancashire.

Legal experts say that up to 70,000 workers in the area may find they are not entitled to the day off. And the terms of their contracts mean they will get no extra pay for working.

The counter argument would be that many people given the day off would show no interest in watching the wedding.

But there is so much doom and gloom amid the government cuts that every worker deserves to take advantage of a little bonus being offered to them.

Many of us are working harder than ever as we juggle the many challenges of modern life. Even if people don’t watch the wedding, a day off would do wonders for morale.

So there is no excuse, not even the legal get-out in contracts, for preventing people enjoying April 29.