A BRAVE bride overcame serious illness to walk down the aisle with her father at her wedding.

Lauren Keitly, from Little Eaton, has battled with ME since she was 10 years old and normally uses a wheelchair.

But, for her wedding to Matt Palfrey at St Mary's Church in Derby, Lauren was determined to walk down the aisle on her dad, Bob's, arm.

"It was very emotional," she said. "My legs were wobbly and I didn't know if it was down to the ME or nerves, but I managed to hold back the tears.

"I was worried about falling over because of my big, princess-style dress and was hanging on to my dad, looking at Matt waiting for me."

Bob, who used to own the pharmacy in Little Eaton, said walking his younger daughter down the aisle was an emotional experience.

"We never knew whether she would make it or not," he said. "But we had a wonderful day, managed to get Lauren to the limo and then into church and didn't need to use the wheelchair – we couldn't have asked for more.

"She hung on to me on the way down the aisle and then hung on to her new husband for the rest of the time!"

Lauren, 24, was diagnosed with the debilitating disease 14 years ago.

"I had to grow up very quickly," she said. "My sister Yvette also has ME and I knew there were things that she couldn't do, but I didn't really understand at that age.

"I missed such a lot. I used to love dancing and wanted to be a dancer."

Lauren met Matt while they were both studying theatre arts at the University of Derby and they now live in London, where Matt is an actor.

"Matt is amazing. He pushes my wheelchair, looks after me and, if I'm ill in the night, he gets up, tries to make me comfortable and refills my hot water bottle – he really is perfect," she said.

Matt, 24, said: "It was quite a lot for us to contend with in the 18 months we were planning the wedding but she was determined to walk down the aisle.

"There wasn't a dry eye in the house when she came in!"

Bob paid tribute to his new son-in-law saying: "Matt has taken the ME on from day one. He has looked after her and made sure she is feeling okay."

Lauren's sister, Yvette Johnson, was the couple's matron of honour.

Laura Moss and Matt's sister, Nicole Palfrey, were the bridesmaids and Paul Williams the best man.

Matt's mum, Jean Palfrey, travelled from York for the wedding.

The ushers were Adam Howell, Robert Deamer and JC Ortanna, with the couple's nephews, Alex and Morgan Johnson, as pageboys.

The reception was held at Horsley Lodge.

The couple went to Los Angeles for their honeymoon and Lauren said: "Matt had a hard time carrying two suitcases and pushing me in the wheelchair as well but we managed."

Lauren's dreams for the future are very simple. She wants to be well, to be able to work and earn a living, and to have children.

She said. "I try to stay positive every day. All I want is to live an ordinary life."

Pictures were by Paul Deverill at www.weddingphotographs.co.uk