SOLDIER Louise Hallett thought she had plenty of time to organise her summer wedding.

But then the Royal Engineer from Rochester was put on standby to go to the Gulf as war with Iraq looms closer.

Instead of postponing preparations for her big day in August, she and fiance Elton Montgomery decided to bring it forward. They organised the ceremony and reception in just eight days.

Louise, 33, a Lance Corporal, received the news about being on standby on January 17 and she married Elton last Saturday at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone.

The frantic preparations included flying in 28-year-old Elton's family from Ireland and finding a register office available to perform the ceremony at short notice.

Guests at the ceremony included Louise's Army colleagues. The bride said she was "a little bit apprehensive" about the prospect of going off to war. Her husband, a farmer, said he was trying hard not to think about his wife leaving.

Due to Louise's call-up the newlyweds are unable to go on honeymoon and it was business as usual as she returned to work this week.