NEWLY weds Michael and Alana Kwiatkowski today thanked all those who had helped them celebrate a very special wedding day.

The couple were showered with offers of help after Michael, 31, who suffers from a terminal illness, was burgled on Friday, and £1,000 was stolen, putting their wedding plans in doubt.

Thanks to the generosity of Evening Press readers and local firms, the wedding went ahead as planned in Gretna Green yesterday.

The ceremony was attended by Michael's mother and father Anita and Mick, his sister, Audrey, his best man Steve Greenwood and Alana's maid of honour, Sophie Wilson.

They returned home to Lindsey Avenue, Acomb, yesterday afternoon and celebrated in the Pack of Cards pub last night.

Michael said: "We would just like to say a big thank you. We've been overwhelmed with the support given to us and we can't thank people enough. It was a lovely occasion."

Michael and Alana were having an album of photographs taken by Low Catton-based photographers Photech Photographers today and on their wedding day given the use of a limousine by Skelton-based M&J Walker Wedding Cars.

They were also offered a room at the Parsonage Hotel in Escrick.

Updated: 08:42 Friday, March 15, 2002