A terminally illl mum has been able to share her daughter's big day after a special wedding ceremony was organised at a hospice.

Patient Diane Mewett fell ill while arrangements for Joanne Perkiss's wedding to fiance Allan Pippard, from Faversham, were being planned.

So the marriage day was brought forward because they desperately wanted her to be part of the family celebration.

After a civil service, the wedding party went to the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury where Diane could be part of a blessing ceremony.

The white wedding took place in the family lounge at the London Road hospice last week with 20 guests. The blessing was given by the hospice's spiritual care leader, Martyn Yates.

The room was dressed with fresh flower arrangements and the Pilgrims' catering team prepared a buffet for the guests.

Afterwards Diane said: "I’m still on a natural high because it was wonderful. Everyone made such an incredible effort to make the whole day very special for all of us."

Joanne, a nurse, said: "It was an amazing day for mum and me. I can’t explain how thankful I am to Pilgrims for the support given to her and the whole family.”

The couple asked their family and friends to make a donation to Pilgrims Hospices as an alternative to wedding gifts.

Martyn said: "We put the people who use our services and their families at the heart of everything we do here at Pilgrims.

"When Joanne approached us with her wedding thoughts, we wanted to do everything we could to make this possible for the family."

"We believe each and every person living with a life limiting illness in east Kent deserves quality care so they, and their family, can live each and every moment they have well."