A BRIDEGROOM has spoken out in anger at a vicar's decision not to marry him after his bride-to-be revealed she had chosen...a strapless wedding dress.

Justin Pick, 28, who has lived in Bearsted, near Maidstone, all his life, is desperate to marry at the local Holy Cross Church when he ties to knot next summer.

After years of working and living within the community Mr Pick, an office manager, wants to hold the most important day of his life in the village he loves.

But now vicar of Bearsted with Thurnham, the Rev John Corbyn, has told the young couple that they cannot get married there if Mr Pick's fiancée wears a wedding dress which leaves her shoulders bare.

The 25-year-old hairdresser, who lives in Weavering and prefers to remain anonymous, has already ordered her strapless dream dress and Mr Pick feels disappointed that his partner's happiness is being placed in jeopardy.

"After we booked the wedding we met at the vicarage and Mr Corbyn mentioned then that he didn't like off-the-shoulder dresses. My partner had chosen her dress by then so of course she was taken aback.

"I suggested she take a photo in to illustrate that the dress is decent. So she did, but he told her no, she must cover up.

"In fact he suggested that she wear a shawl secured by a brooch and wouldn't listen to reason at all. She ended up in tears.

"We shouldn't be stressed by this, we should be excited. I feel like I have been stabbed in the back by a vicar who has only been around for a year and a half. The vicar before him married my sister when she wore a strapless dress - so why are the rules different for us?"

Mr Pick's mother, Susan, is also upset by the vicar's behaviour and has written several letters to the Bishop of Dover Stephen Venner, who is Rev Corbyn's superior.

Mrs Pick said: "She has been reasonable about it, and offered to have removable straps fitted. She even told him her veil would be so long it would cover her shoulders. He just won't listen.

"I know that vicars have their beliefs but in the 21st century you have to adjust your views. I am a church person, but this is something I cannot support. I just hope some agreement can be made."

In his letter to the family the Bishop of Dover wrote: "Mr Corbyn follows a practice that he has used for many years of making some suggestions about what might be appropriate in a church. You will know that clubs, restaurants and even some shops also issue such guidelines."

With no current change of heart from Rev Corbyn, who was unavailable for comment, the couple are awaiting a further response from the Bishop and have provisionally booked another service at Boxley church.