A wedding planner from Abbots Langley stepped in to help a bride on her big day when the original organiser "vanished", 17 days before the ceremony.

Catherine and Iain Thomson, of Rugby, tied the knot on April 7 but were annoyed and frustrated when their planner failed to return their calls or emails in the run-up to the ceremony.

Debbie Diggle, from Whitley Close, heard about their situation and helped them to have "the most amazing wedding day".

Debbie, 47, has been a wedding planner for four years after previously working as a computer consultant. She married Kevin, 46, five years ago.

She said: "I decided to become a planner because I didn't want anyone to make the same mistakes I did.

"The idea is to save the bride time and stress, and possibly money, so she can relax and enjoy the actual wedding day."

Debbie is a regular visitor to an online forum, where future brides can discuss their wedding plans.

Catherine posted a message saying she couldn't contact her wedding planner, and Debbie decided to offer her services free of charge. As payment, £150 was donated to the MS Society and Cancer Research.