A HOTEL group has offered a lifeline to a young couple who have been trying to reorganise their wedding after Hurricane Ivan put paid to their plans to marry in Jamaica.

Trainee teacher Nicky Carter, 21, and electrician Michael Cannings, 22, spent what should have been their wedding day sheltering with 500 people in a hotel ballroom in Montego Bay.

After returning home to Strouden Park, Bournemouth, earlier this week, they hoped to marry next Saturday, the date on which they had already booked an evening reception at the Carrington House Hotel.

Things were looking bleak because the pair were unable to give 15 days' notice to the registrar - as required by law - before September 25.

But now Forestdale Hotels, owner of the Carrington House, has offered to move the evening reception to another date with no financial penalty.

It has also offered an afternoon reception at cost price.

Group manager Mark Haslingden said: "Under no circumstances will they lose their money.

"We're not planning to make money out of their misfortunes and we've said we will do our best for them.

"We have offered them the complimentary honeymoon suite on their first night and if they want to have a couple of days away, we will organise it for them."

Nicky and Michael are now hoping they will be able to get married at Holdenhurst Church on October 23, and are waiting to hear whether any of the money they spent on the Jamaican holiday will be refunded.

Michael said: "The Carrington has been really good and we're feeling a lot happier.

"We're still pinning our hopes on getting our money back so we can put it into making the wedding a bit special for us."

First published: Sept 18