It all made a rather unusual guest list guaranteed to surprise Philip Sandells and Marilyn Bainbridge Dixon.

The Sowerby Bridge couple thought they had organised a straightforward civil ceremony for their big day at Todmorden Town Hall.

But Marilyn's brother Allan Dixon had other ideas after waiting 25 years to get his own back on his sister for the prank she pulled on his wedding day. He swears she painted his car with brown shoe polish.

Allan, 46, of Burnley and his wife, Elaine, turned up to the wedding as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

And her other younger brother Mark Dixon, 38, came as Scooby Doo.

The group pulled the fancy dress prank to get the bride giggling at the ceremony.

She said: "Allan thinks it was me who painted his car as a joke on his wedding day 25 years ago.

"To this day I swear it wasn't me but he has waited all this time to get his revenge and the result was extremely funny."

Marilyn's 23-year-old daughter, Laura Gillmartin, said: "She was absolutely gobsmacked when they walked in dressed as cartoon characters. But I think she loved it and thought it was a great idea."

Allan said: "It was a just bit of a joke.

"I had to get the car re-sprayed after my wedding because the paintwork was damaged so I've been waiting ages to get my own back."

The bridegroom, a car sales executive in Halifax, is the eldest son of the late Reginald Sandells and the late Avril Sandells, of Illingworth, Halifax.

Marilyn, a child care development officer in Wakefield, is the eldest daughter of the late Frank Dixon and Ellen Dixon, of Burnley.

She wore a mauve trouser suit and aubergine top and carried purple flowers.

The couple held the reception at their home in Sowerby Bridge, before leaving for a honeymoon in New York.