FOR a little village near York, it had all the excitement of the royal wedding...

Because when Lucy Mary Sheffield married Thomas Matthew Jackson at All Hallows Church in Sutton-on-the-Forest, the guests included none other than Prime Minister David Cameron, his wife Samantha and their children.

The family had travelled by train to York on Saturday, after Mr Cameron had attended The Trooping The Colour in the capital.

The Prime Minister, who stopped to shake a young boy’s hand, carried the couple’s 14-month-old daughter, Florence, whose shock of spiky hair was admired by locals.

Samantha Cameron wore an elegant blue, green, and black dappled print dress, with flecks of yellow and pink, with a gold pashmina slung over her arm. She did not don a hat, but neither did most of the other guests.

A brief downpour did not spoil the proceedings as the bride – who is Samantha’s half sister – sheltered under an umbrella while being driven by horse and carriage to the church from Sutton Park, the stately home owned by Samantha and Lucy’s father, Sir Reginald Sheffield.

The bride wore a sleek high-necked cream dress, with a tiara and heart-shaped diamond cluster earrings and was accompanied in the carriage by the Camerons’ eldest daughter, Nancy, seven.

Three page boys travelled in the trunk of the cart singing: “It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring”.

The happy couple walked down the aisle to Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke, and sang hymns Praise My Soul, The King Of Heaven, Lord Of All Hopefulness and Give Me Joy In My Heart.

They left the church to the Hornpipe from the Water Music Suite by Handel, into warm sunshine.

Local children kept the village’s tradition of tying up the gates to the church with a white ribbon.

The practice is a tradition in the village, and the couple and other guests tossed coins to the children, who then let them back into society as a married couple. The reception was held at Sutton Park.

There was a subtle presence of security staff, dressed smartly in suits, who kept watch, but didn't prevent residents taking photographs.

Susan Fletcher, who was watching from outside the church with dozens of residents, children and well-wishers, said she had enjoyed having the event in the village.

“It’s wonderful for the village,” she said.

“It’s just a really nice village occasion.”

Lucy, 29, and Tom, 32, live in London and met through their professions in television.

Lucy is a co-ordinator for the BBC’s programme The Culture Show, hosted by Alan Yentob, while Tom, also works in television, setting up events, mainly music events, such as Glastonbury, for ITV and the BBC.

The Camerons stayed over at Sutton Park after the wedding, where the reception was held in a marquee.