For years, Joanne Bailey watched wistfully as a succession of brides arrived at the church in her village in a variety of grand carriages.

Dad, Robin, joked that when it was her turn, he'd take her in his wheelbarrow.

So he decorated his trusty barrow and – with the full agreement of his fun-loving daughter – that is how she arrived at church.

Joanne, 27, was whisked from her Church Lane home, in Long Clawson, on Saturday, to the nearby St Remigius Parish Church to marry 26-year-old Billy Boulding, of Melton.

Robin, 57, better known in the village as Prince Conker, through his involvement in the annual Vale of Belvoir Conker Championships, said: "Ever since she was a little girl, we shared the joke about the wheelbarrow.

"I did say to her on the day we could just walk to the church, but she hitched up her dress, jumped in and said 'come on Dad'.

"She had seen brides going past our house to the church in all sorts of different carriages.

"When we got to the top of the hill, I couldn't believe it.

"The whole village had come out and there was a big cheer and a clap as we went down the road."

For new husband, Billy, there was also a surprise, as Robin had organised for Filbert the Fox, the Leicester City Football Club mascot, to greet him as the couple walked out of the church to the Post Horn Gallop, City's signature tune.

The couple went to Florida for their honeymoon.