A couple who appeared on Channel 5's Can't Work, Won't Work have thanked taxpayers after using their benefits to pay for the wedding.

Richard Broom, 35, and his bride, 61-year-old Sandra Gallagher, tied the knot at a church in Chatham yesterday.

The Gillingham couple paid for the wedding using the £1,900 they get a month in benefits.

According to the Sunday Mirror, the pair spend £4,000 on the ceremony including a £800 dress and tiara, Mr Broom's suit, three bridesmaid dresses and a reception for guests at their local working men’s club in Gillingham.

They budgeted £800 for food from Iceland and asked guests to bring their own alcohol, providing just soft drinks.

“Thanks to the taxpayer we were able to have a great day" - Mr Broom

The engagement ring cost £500 and they also spent a further £500 on an engagement party.

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Mr Broom said: “Thanks to the taxpayer we were able to have a great day.

"We are lucky to have a system that allows that in the UK. We deserve a marriage or wedding bonus funded by taxpayers because when people on ­benefits marry they get less money.

“It’s something that would encourage other benefits couples to marry. We’ve saved £600 for our honeymoon and want the Government to match it.”

His new wife, who is a mother of seven, added: “Getting married is a human right and to be denied it is wrong. We’re waiting to save more money for our honeymoon, but hoping the Government will offer a ­honeymoon voucher or bonus.

“Benefits people shouldn’t be slagged off for being on benefits or criticised for having a nice wedding.

“We’re just like normal people and benefit haters don’t know how we’ve suffered on limited funds.”

Mr Broom is claiming unemployment benefit as he pursues his dream of becoming an actor in the style of EastEnders tough guy, Danny Dyer. He has not worked for two years. Mrs Broom says that she cannot hold down a job because of her health.