A COUPLE were married in a fairytale ceremony after winning an £8,000 dream wedding package in a Lancashire Evening Telegraph competition.

Claire Eaves, 25, and Michael Bickerstaffe, 21, of Tudor Close, Darwen, were picked from more than 85 couples to take the prize.

They were married at St Joseph's Church, Bolton Road, Darwen, yesterday, before a reception at Ewood Park, Blackburn.

The couple have been together for three years and live with children, Leonie, two, and Megan, seven. Both girls were bridesmaids.

At the wedding, Claire arrived in a vintage 1928 Buick.

She said she had been left "absolutely gobsmacked" by what they had won.

She said: "I think I am still in shock."

The wedding was won at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Bridal Fayre in October last year.

The happy couple's wedding package included wedding and bridesmaid dresses from Special By Design, suit hire from Novaks, a wedding breakfast for 50 guests at Ewood Park with catering and champagne from Northcote Offsite, photographs by Stuart Ainslie, flowers from Garland's, car hire courtesy of Special Cars, and even a cake by Caroline's Cakes.

Speaking at the wedding, Blackburn Rovers fan Michael said he and his friends were "delighted" to have the reception at Ewood Park.