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Wedding car crashes yards from church

25/ 9/2008

A BRIDEGROOM married in agony and his elderly mum suffered a heart attack after their wedding car crashed just yards from the church.

Brian Ashton, 47, injured his back, leg and arm in the smash when the brakes on his white limousine appeared to fail.

His mother Maureen, 78, was rushed to hospital and was said to be ‘poorly’ on Sunday night.

The car carrying the pair, along with Mr Ashton’s best man, sped up down the steep gradient of Long Street in Middleton and veered into a side road, crashing into a council work van and then into a wall near Middleton Methodist Church.

Bride Sarah Ward, 27, arrived in a separate car moments later and was stunned by the scene which greeted her.

She said: "I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Everyone was there for the wedding, so we couldn't cancel it, but we were worried about my mother-in-law and Brian stood through the service in pain.

"His brothers left straight after to go to the hospital and had to miss the reception.

"It wasn't the same without her there."

Mrs Ashton was taken by ambulance to North Manchester General, where she was recovering over the weekend.

The newlyweds, who have a four-year-old son, Jack, were due to leave for their honeymoon as the Guardian went to press, but may cancel the trip to help care for Mrs Ashton if her condition does not improve.

Photographer Ian Howarth saw the accident from outside the church.

He said: "We heard this almighty skid, a crash, then another crash.

"It looked like the brakes had failed - the driver said he was pumping them, but nothing happened. The car was picking up speed as it was going down the road, so it was going fairly fast by the time it hit.

"I thought they would call the wedding off, but with all the time and money invested in it, they decided to go ahead."

Sarah said: "I had something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue - but it obviously didn’t work. The crash spoiled the day and my husband’s still in a lot of pain. He can’t bend down because of injuries to his back and left leg, and his arm is black with bruises.

"It could’ve been worse as my mother, son and bridesmaids were due to be picked up in the same car, so I suppose we’re lucky in that way."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed: "Officers were called to Long Street following reports of a collision between a wedding car and a van.

"A 78-year-old woman was taken to hospital after suffering chest pains.

"Enquiries are continuing and witnesses should please call police on 0161 856 8809."