IT'S every girl's dream for her dad to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day.

But Mary Murphy thought that was one part of the most special day of her life she was going to miss out on.

Mary's dad Bernard Hinnigan, 66, of Bank Top, Blackburn, had been so ill with angina and bronchitis that nobody thought he would even make it to her wedding to Graham Brynes.w

But on Saturday he was the proudest dad alive when he walked Mary, of Blackburn, down the aisle at St Alban's Church, Blackburn, after making a great recovery.

Mary, 25, who lives in the Larkhill area, said: "Dad had been in hospital and had been ill for a long time.

"When Graham proposed to me at New Year we just thought we would see how it went, but I didn't think my dad would be well enough to be there. I'm absolutely over the moon. Every girl wants her dad to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day and I can't believe it has actually happened."

Bernard said: "I have been ill but I wouldn't have missed this day for anything in the world.

"I love Mary to bits and I just wanted to be there for her on her special day."

Mary and Graham held a reception for their family and friends at St Alban's Social Centre and are honeymooning in Tenerife.

Picture: Bernard with daughter Mary and bridegroom Graham Brynes