Couple's secret wedding blown by newspaper

A couple who eloped from Scotland to England to get married in secret had their secret exposed after their photo appeared in a national newspaper.

Traditionally, couples elope to Scotland to get married, but James and Sharon McGregor did things a little different.

Without telling their family or friends, they travelled from Fife to Brighton for their secret wedding.

However, the couple had their secret blown in spectacular style when their photo appeared in a national newspaper.

James (33) and Sharon (35) first met 14 years ago when they both worked for Butlins.

They fell in love and, after spending 10 years living in Brighton, moved back to Sharon's native Scotland to settle.

Several years into the relationship James proposed and the couple set about planning their wedding.

But with the costs mounting - and with the arrival of daughter Annie, now 6 - they decided their money would be better spent elsewhere.

James comments: "We were going to get married a fair few years back but started planning it and it was going to be £20,000 plus.

"We decided we'd much rather have a house, particularly when the kids came along".

So, wedding plans were put on the back burner as they settled into family life, with the couple welcoming son Alexander two years ago.

Then last year the idea of getting married, but in a more low key way, was raised again.

James explains: "We decided that we still wanted to get married, but didn't necessarily want to do the whole white wedding".

So a plan was hatched; the couple decided to elope to their former home of Brighton in order to tie the knot.

And that's exactly what they did - telling family and friends that they were simply heading off for a few days away together.

The only people who knew the real reason behind the trip was James' brother and a close friend of Sharon's

The pair said their vows in a registry office before heading down to the beach to have their photos taken and enjoy the fantastic weather.

While on the beach they were approached by photographer David McHugh who took their pictures.

One of these images - showing the happy couple sitting in deckchairs in their wedding finery - appeared the next day in the Daily Star newspaper.

Much to her bemusement, James' mother received a text message from a friend expressing her congratulations, and that's how she learned about her son's wedding.

James comments: "The original plan was to hold a big family meal to break the news.

"But the picture appeared in the Daily Star the next day.

"My brother phoned me up saying 'your cover has been blown', and I had to meekly phone my mum up and say sorry but this is what has happened".

He adds: "They [his parents] are pleased now they're getting over the shock".

Despite the unexpected unveiling, and the discomfort of wearing a three piece suit on the hottest day of the year, James says he and Sharon wouldn't have changed a thing about their unusual wedding day.

He says: "The day was fantastic. It was just what we wanted".