Devastated couple need wedding venue

Their medieval-themed wedding was intended to raise thousands of pounds for three separate charities with special meaning for their families.

Caz Rainger and Martin Coomber are getting married on Saturday July 4 and had planned an entire weekend at St John's Ambulance campsite to celebrate - complete with re-enactment, archers, sword fights, tee-pees, Punch and Judy, hog roast and feast.

However they were told this week that the booking was cancelled because the camp site had been sold and their 300 deposit would be refunded.

They have already invited 200 guests who are due to arrive from the Friday afternoon onwards but now have nowhere to put them.

Caz, of Lucy Way, said of the cancellation on Bank Holiday Monday: "I just burst into tears. I am devastated - I can't believe it.

"I have been walking around in a daze thinking - where do we go?"

Martin added: "Just what are we going to do? We have eleven weeks to find a venue that hasn't already been booked up. We booked that campsite a year ago."

The couple is now appealing for an alternative place to book their wedding weekend - they need somewhere with a field, a hall with cooking facilities, and toilet facilities.

The guests have all been asked to donate money instead of traditional gifts - funds will be split between Marie Curie Cancer Care, British Heart Foundation, and Wheels For The World.

"It's instead of presents," commented Caz.

"I am not having flowers either - we have got pin badges from Marie Curie which are little daffodils for the ladies, and heart pin badges from the British Heart Foundation for the men. We are doing the whole event for charity - we gave out gift aid envelopes with the invites."

Martin said: "We are also doing Wheelchairs For The World - when my dad passed away we bought nine wheelchairs then, asking for donations instead of flowers for the funeral.

"We have chosen these because we have both lost family to cancer - I lost a 30 year old cousin two years ago...it's what takes my mum's family. Then my daughter had a heart bypass when she was 18 months old - heart problems and cancer have affected both our families."

The couple hopes anyone who can help will contact them on [email protected] or telephone on 077154 71177.