A SPOOKY couple have become the first in the UK to have their wedding blessed - in the graveyard of their town s cemetery. Samantha Smyth, 25, and husband Paul Adams, 33, met in their local pub eight years ago and married in a traditional registry office

A SPOOKY couple have become the first in the UK to have their wedding blessed - in the graveyard of their town's cemetery.

Samantha Smyth, 25, and husband Paul Adams, 33, met in their local pub eight years ago and married in a traditional registry office with two witnesses in February.

However the couple from Wisbech, had really wanted a gothic wedding in their local graveyard - but realised it would mean their marriage was not legally recognised.

To overcome the problem they decided to fulfil their dream by having a blessing, eight months after their ''legal wedding'', in Wisbech General Cemetery on Saturday at 3pm.

The blessing was performed in the storm-battered grave yard by a Spiritualist minister, as 40 family and friends gathered around the disused four acre site's ancient stone chapel.

Despite driving rain mother-of-three Samantha wore a white gown, flecked with strips of red material and completed her outfit with a black fur coat and black flowers in her hair.

Her bridesmaids and daughter, Raveena, nine wore matching outfits while her son Kurt, six, wore and AC DC t-shirt and six-month-old baby Nathan wore a sailor suit.

Samantha and Paul, who have three children, live just 200 yards from the cemetery where they have walked their three dogs daily for the last two years.

Factory supervisor Paul, who is from a Protestant family, asked Samantha if she wanted to have a blessing at the site after it underwent a �90,000 regeneration programme.

Housewife Samantha, who is from a family of Catholics, said friends thought she was mad when she told them she was having the �2000 wedding in a graveyard.

She said: ''Paul and I were walking the dogs about two years ago when he asked me if I wanted to get married in the cemetery - I thought he was nuts.

''At first I looked at him and laughed in his face but when I thought about it the cemetery I realised the cemetery was a really good option.

''Neither of us have ever really cared about religion and I didn't want a plain white dress because I didn't want to look like a washed out ghost.''

''My dad, who is a hardcore Catholic didn't believe me when I told him but when I showed him the site - he just said to do whatever made me happy.

''We had a wonderful day and it was actually very peaceful and tranquil with all the graves and trees sweeping over the chapel.''

Following the blessing the couple returned to their local pub where they cut their giant French Fancy wedding cake with a metre-long Scottish broad sword.

All guests were treated to post-wedding nibbles which consisted of the unorthodox combination of cakes and chicken legs.

Paul added: ''It's a kind of a strange place but it is a really pretty building and everybody really enjoyed the blessing.''

A spokesman for Fenland District Council who granted permission for the couple to be blessed on the site said he wished the couple all the best for the future.

He said: ''It's not every day we get a request like this and we are delighted to help the happy couple hold their wedding in this peaceful setting.''

Spiritualists believe the human soul is immortal and that those living in the physical body and those living in spirit can communicate with each other.