It took six months, twelve lessons and 180 hours of practice but it was all worth it for one proud father who wowed guests at his daughter's wedding with a rendition of a rock and roll classic.

John Butcher took the 100-strong crowd by surprise as he blasted out Elvis Presley's Always On My Mind despite admitting that he "really can't sing."

Father-of-two Mr Butcher performed the classic at his daughter Natalie's wedding at The Orangery at Turkey Mill, Maidstone, after taking up singing lessons in May with the help of wedding entertainer Darren Eiffert.

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Twenty-six-year-old Natalie married her husband Ian Wright, 29, after he proposed to her at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Florida last September and Mr Butcher said he had been preparing for the wedding for more than a year.

The wedding itself shared a subtle Disney theme, with tables named after characters from it's popular movies.

Elvis fan Mr Butcher, from Castle Road, Allington, said: "The people at the venue said I was the most involved father they have every seen, I always want to do something a bit different."

The 50-year-old, who dedicated the song to his wife Mel as well as Natalie, added: "I really can't sing and don't pretend to. I spoke to Darren in April about the idea and started lessons in May. I have had a lesson every other week and have practiced the song for an hour a day since then."

The production company manager, who took his daughter to the venue in his 1933 Austin 10, even paid to have a voice artist record an X-Factor style introduction.

Despite 100 people attending the ceremony on Sunday, October 26, only two guests, Mr Butcher's son Chris and singing coach Darren, knew about his plans.

He said: "Everyone thought the DJ had mucked up, but then I got up and started singing. People were laughing and crying and standing up waving their hands. People came up afterwards and said they didn't know I could sing.

"My wife, Mel, was in tears as she knew nothing about the performance and my daughter told me afterwards that it was the closest she came to crying throughout the whole ceremony."

Natalie said: "We had the most amazing day which was finished off perfectly with the surprise of my dad singing after the speech. I was in shock but touched by the choice of song and the amount of effort that had gone into the preparation. Everyone seemed to be as blown away as I was and it is something I will never forget."

Rev Geoff Davis presided over the wedding — which was his last before retirement — having christened Mr Wright when he first started at St Peters Church in Boughton Monchelsea 29 years ago.

Mel, 47, said: "I generally wise up to exactly what he is up to, I can't believe he managed to keep it a secret for so long.

"I was laughing and crying, I had my face in a serviette, it was very emotional and I was very proud of him especially as he's not the kind of person to put himself at the centre of attention."

The couple will be jetting off to Thailand later this month for their honeymoon.