ELVIS Presley's tender ballad 'Can't Help Falling in Love' was the backdrop to a beautiful ceremony which saw Dr Kershaw's Hospice patient Peter Kennedy finally tie the knot with his sweetheart of 25 years.

The tears flowed as Peter and his beloved partner Norma Norris exchanged rings and said their vows at the hospice just days after he popped the question there.

Hospice nurses pulled out all the stops to make the special day happen for the Chadderton couple who met each other in 1993 when they both worked at a local bedding factory.

With the help of Spiritual Care and Bereavement Nurse, Pauline Brierley, a registrar was booked and donations of flowers and a wedding cake soon followed.

And thanks to the amazing fundraising efforts of 10-year-old hospice supporter, Keira Arnold, and her bid to make dreams come true for Dr Kershaw's patients, the buffet was funded by her Keira's Wishes appeal.

Norma's 21-year-old son, Luke, proudly linked his mum and as they walked into the hospice family room - specially decorated for the occasion by nurse Alice Urey - where loved ones and nursing staff gathered to witness the civil ceremony before toasting the happy couple with glasses of fizz and cutting the cake.

Sixty-two-year-old Peter's proposal came after his social worker Jane Varey told him it was time to "make an honest woman" of Norma and he quickly decided to make up for lost time.

Peter said: “We should have got married a long time ago but we were very busy, the years went by and we just never got round to it”.

“I think she thought I was joking when I asked her!”

“I felt great on the day. I’m over the moon that we were able to get married, and it has brought the family together."

Norma, aged 63, added: “It is a shame that Peter became ill but we were so glad we had the opportunity to get married thanks to the staff at Dr Kershaw’s.”

Dr Kershaw’s would like to say a special thank you to The Floristry, in Shaw, for their donation of flowers and Sparkles, in Chadderton, for the wedding cake.