A NEWLY-WED couple returned from honeymoon to find pranksters had bricked up the doors of their house, sealed the windows and converted their drive into a fish pond.

Spencer and Victoria Atkinson stared in disbelief when they arrived at their home in in Clavell Close, Rainham, early this morning following a flight from The Maldives.

First they spotted the fish swimming in 2ft of water where the couple normally park their cars. Then their mood blackened as the blocked up doors, sealed windows and filled locks stopped them getting into their £170,000 home.

The prank was the brainchild of Mr Atkinson's younger brother Steven Butler, a haulage company director. He said: "Whenever anybody in my family gets married we - relatives and close friends - make absolutely sure that something horrible happens and that is just what is happening to my brother today. He will probably have hit the roof but will calm down in a few weeks."

Mr Atkinson, 38, a gas fitter, said: "I suppose I was sort of expecting something. Pranks are a bit of tradition with us - but nothing like my drive being turned into a fishpond."

He says he is sure the prankers will rapidly rectify the situation and return the house to its pre-wedding condition.

Mr Butler, 27, of Claridge Court, Hempstead, is expecting retribution though. On July 5 next year he is marrying accountant Marie Burbidge. "We are going to St Lucia for our honeymoon," he added. "But I frankly do not know whether or not our house will still be standing when we get back."