IT was the happiest day of their lives – brought forward eight months because of the bridegroom’s brave battle against a deadly illness.

John Holmes, of Huntington, York, was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer in July, only months after proposing to the love of his life.

John and his new wife Linda, 53, had planned to tie the knot with a white wedding on April 7 next year – six years to the day after they first met.

But after John, 58, received his devastating diagnosis and began a gruelling course of medication to ease his constant pain, Linda decided she wanted to begin married life with her partner as soon as possible.

Despite sending out just seven invitations in the midst of the whirlwind fortnight it took to organise the ceremony at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, in Fossgate, 150 family and friends gathered together to celebrate the union in an emotional and astonishing display of affection and support.

John was diagnosed with cancer after receiving treatment for sciatica for 18 months.

“I had constant pain for months in my backs and my legs,” he said.

“I received physiotherapy, but the pain was getting worse and worse. “The doctors originally thought it was sciatica, but after more and more tests I was told I had cancer in my back.

“After I was told I was in another world for weeks, I was devastated and felt so sick with all the new medication I was on, so Linda, together with my sons, John and Jo, decided to bring the wedding forward as quickly as possible.”

On Thursday, Linda, wearing a strapless floor-length white dress and flanked by five bridesmaids, walked up the aisle and tied the knot with John.

Despite tomorrow bringing back more test results that could show cancer has spread to John’s kidneys, he maintains he’s still on “cloud nine” after having the “best day of his life”.

“It was absolutely brilliant,” he said.

“Everything went without a hitch, and it could not have been better planned if we had spent years organising it. I have worked at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall for 15 years, and seen thousands of beautiful weddings take place there – so it was a perfect place to get married.”

He said: “Linda has been an amazing source of support for me since I received the news.

“She is a care worker and experiences illnesses in her daily life so she has been very strong for me, despite obviously also being devastated by the news.

“Also my friends and the rest of my family have been brilliant and I want to thank everyone who came together for the wedding to make it one of the happiest days of my life.”