A JUST-MARRIED couple were celebrating today after leaving their wedding ceremony in the bucket of a digger.Tanya and Merrick Ruffles, of Trimley St Mary, stunned guests with their unique departure from St Andrews church in Melton this weekend.

A JUST-MARRIED couple were celebrating today after leaving their wedding ceremony in the bucket of a digger.

Tanya and Merrick Ruffles, of Trimley St Mary, stunned guests with their unique departure from St Andrews church in Melton this weekend.

Mr Ruffles, 28, a worker for AMEC utilities, said: "I've always been in to diggers all my life. Tanya said she wanted a white wedding and all the trimmings, which was fine by me. But I said, in that case I'm going to sort out the transport.

"Little did she know it was going to be in a digger!"

After posing for pictures and the traditional bouquet throwing, the couple left the church in the large front bucket of a Case digger, which was lined with mattresses.

The back bucket was filled with flowers and the whole machine was draped with ribbons.

Mrs Ruffles (nee Barnes), 25, said: "Leaving in the digger seemed like a bit of a masculine thing to do so my mum and friends tried to make it look as feminine as possible!"

The couple made their way to the end of the road in the digger, where they swapped their unusual mode of transport for a more sedate car before making their way to Ufford Park for their reception.

Mrs Ruffles said: "Since he was the age of three of four Merrick's been mad about tractors and diggers. His dad is a builder so as soon as he was old enough he would be driving around in them with him.

"When he said he wanted to leave the church in his dad's digger I was shocked but I think it was a brilliant idea.

"When we told people what we were doing they all just laughed and said it was such a Merrick thing to do."

The pair first met when Tanya was nine years old but it was another fourteen years before they realised they were destined to be together.

Mrs Ruffles, formerly of Kirton, said: "I used to be best friends with his sister when I was younger but Merrick and I really didn't get on. It got to the point where he would go out if he knew I was coming round!"

The pair eventually drifted apart as Karina removed to America, but bumped in to each other again in Liquid nightclub in Ipswich in November 2001.

Mrs Ruffles said: "We just talked and talked and everything happened very quickly after that. We moved in together within about three months and it's just strange that it took us so long to realise our feelings."

They are now enjoying a honeymoon in St Lucia before settling in to married life in their Trimley St Mary home.

Will you be celebrating your wedding in an unusual way? Telephone The Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324789.