Nikki Jarvis

nikki.jarvis@essnmedia.co.uk

IT IS every blushing bride's right to be fashionably late for her wedding.

But when roadworks threatened to stop Anita Cooley's bridal car from picking her up from her home, getting to the church on time became a big concern. That was just the start of her worries – with the prospect she would have to get hitched in a rather mucky dress.

Croydon Council had announced that Westfield Avenue in Sanderstead was due to be resurfaced between August 18 and 20. With Anita, 30, due to wed 31-year-old Nick Cooley on the 21st there was no room for hold-ups.

And, when one setback after another presented itself, the anxious father of the bride found himself fearing the worst.

Brian Longman, 65, said: "I rang the council when we heard about the roadworks and let them know the situation. If the car couldn't pick Anita up, the day would have got off to a bad start and set the whole thing off wrongly.

"Every bride wants her wedding day to be perfect and it would really have put a damper on things.

"The perfect wedding day includes a nice car and a nice dress. When one thing after the other started to go wrong I was really worried the car just wouldn't be able to pick her up."

Machines broke down in the street and there were delays getting hold of the tarmac needed for the resurfacing, but the workmen were not about to let this job overrun.

Mr Longman explained: "The team of contractors and Croydon Council worked round the clock. They brought in floodlights, a fleet of lorries and machines and got the road open at 11pm the night before the wedding.

"They were absolutely brilliant – everyone went beyond the call of duty. I was having visions of my daughter hitching up her skirt and hiking to the car. But Anita did get to the church on time, and without having to walk – so well done Croydon."

Anita's mother Carol was relieved that everything went to plan in the end. She said: "I think Anita would have been very upset if there was tar all over the pavement and she had to walk on it.

"I would have been very disappointed and her dress would have been so dirty because it had a big train."

The couple, who enjoyed a stress-free ceremony at All Saints' Church, in Church Road, Warlingham, are now honeymooning in Australia for four weeks.

A spokesman for Croydon Council said: "We're in business to serve the public and try to make Croydon a better place. It's enormously gratifying when people understand some of the problems that can arise and also appreciate the effort we and our contractors make to overcome problems.

"In this instance we are delighted that Anita got to the church for her wedding day without a hitch."