IT was to be the most romantic day of their lives - and it turned out to be one they will never forget.

Richard Clarke and Alison Nealis had carefully planned their special day, with guests who had flown in from across the world to help them celebrate their marriage.

A marquee had been erected with a sumptuous meal for everyone in one of Hampshire's most historic locations.

But a simple check to make sure everything was going to be just perfect sparked a chain of events that saw the couple's wedding cancelled and the groom and several guests in quarantine after they came into contact with a mysterious powder.

The leafy village of Bishop's Waltham became a major incident scene as more than 70 firefighters, police and paramedics dealt with what they thought could be a hazardous material.

Thankfully the dream day had a happy ending. As quickly as the wedding was called off it was back on again, and Alison and Richard finally made it down the aisle much to the joy of family and friends who marked the occasion by tucking into a wedding meal of fish and chips!

Full story - see pages two and three of tonight's Southern Daily Echo