A couple are finally to have their dream wedding - 50 years after they first met.

In a story out of the pages of a Mills and Boon romance Frances Cook, 67, of Stoney Hills, Burnham, and Doug Pitt, 78, of St Giles Crescent, Maldon, are to marry at St Mary's Church, Burnham, on Saturday.

But Mrs Cook was first struck by Cupid's arrow half-a-century ago when, at 17, she fell in love with Doug - a bandleader performing at ballroom dances in the Maldon district.

Mr Pitt said: "I knew Frances' mum and dad as they had a lot to do with booking the dances. I gave Frances a lift home once or twice and she did get a crush on me but I was married at the time."

Mrs Cook was heartbroken when she realised her dream would not come true.

She said: "So, heartbroken, I left the village and joined the Royal Air Force. Life went on. I went my way and he went his and we only ever bumped into each other twice in those 50 years."

Mrs Cook later married and had a family, but last year her husband, who she had nursed for 15 months, died after a long struggle against cancer.

Twelve days later she was glancing through the paper and saw Mr Pitt's wife had also just died. She wrote to him to express her sorrow.

They agreed to meet and it soon became clear it wasn't too late for them to fall in love.

Mr Pitt said: "Things change. We are both on our own and don't know how much longer we have got so we may as well be happy. We are very much in love."

They will finally tie the knot this weekend, with the full support of both their families, but not without a final obstacle to overcome.

Mrs Cook has had several joint operations and have to sit through the ceremony as will the vicar, who recently fell and broke his hip.

A friend of the couple has just had a knee replacement so will be in a decorated wheelchair and the lady making the wedding dress has her arm in a sling as she is awaiting surgery on her wrist.

But this will not stop the couple finally enjoying their day together.

Mrs Cook said: "All in all I do think this will be a day that Doug and I will never forget, with all our friends and family, young or old, walking or riding, coming to wish us what we have already - great happiness."

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