Somerset may have looked more like frozen Siberia over the last couple of days, but there were plenty of heart-warming scenes for happy couples enjoying a ‘white wedding’ at the county’s registration offices.

Despite the Arctic conditions, six of the nine wedding services planned on Friday, (March 2) went ahead thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Somerset and North Somerset Registration Service. The only cancellations were those requested by the couples.

On Saturday a further ten weddings took place thanks to the registration team and others going the extra mile - another eight were cancelled by the couples.

Michael Barker and Nathan Wilder were able to tie the knot at Taunton’s Municipal Buildings thanks to two Registrars who live locally coming in to work on their day off when the original staff couldn’t make it in.

A kind-hearted volunteer driver also stepped in. They and a family friend of a staff member used their 4x4 vehicles to transport ceremony officers around to each venue to ensure that the services could go ahead.

Councillor Anna Groskop, Cabinet Member for Corporate and Community Services at Somerset County Council, which covers the registration service said: “The registration team have worked incredibly hard and showed great ingenuity throughout to ensure that we didn’t disappoint happy couples despite the extremely difficult conditions. We did expect the worst, so this is a wonderful result.

“I’d like to thank the team for their fantastic efforts, along with our incredibly kind volunteers who stepped in to make sure transport was provided.”