A DISTRAUGHT bride was left in tears when her new husband was arrested minutes after they had exhanged their vows.

It was a case of something old, something new, something borrowed -- and the boys in blue at Blackpool Register Office, in South King Street, when police arrested one of Britain's most wanted men.

Simon Noble, 27, had been on the run from police for 14 months but officers from Toller Lane CID, at Bradford, were waiting at the register office following an anonymous tip off.

As about 20 guests filed out of the building, which was a former police station, a van pulled up outside.

While 15 officers secured the area, Detective Inspector Sheridan Moore and three colleagues approached Mr Noble, who was dressed in an open neck shirt and casual trousers.

After one detective read him his rights the newly-wed let go of the arm of his bride and the group escorted him into the waiting van under the gaze of stunned guests. The operation happened so quickly that Noble barely had time to react and just held his head down, resigning himself to his fate. He spent the first night of married life in the cells at Bonny Street, before being taken to Bradford Crown Court where he was remanded until his trial on a wounding charge in two weeks time.

Det Insp Sheridan Moore said: "I can confirm that a man who had been on the run for almost 15 months was arrested last Wednesday.

"Our information was that this man was going to get married at Blackpool Register Office. We waited until the ceremony had taken place and when the bride and groom came outside we made the arrest.

"There was no trouble.

"He was very subdued, very quiet and there seemed to be a general acceptance that it was over."

Det Insp Moore added: "Although I don't know who the person was who rang the police, my thanks go out to them because without their information this man may well be on the run today.

"I would also like to thank the media for all their help in providing publicity during the manhunt operation."