NOW here is a Yorkshire novelty. The world wide wedding.

Thanks to webcam technology, the bride can be in Bridlington, the best man in Botswana and the bridesmaid in Brisbane.

If the groom is in Guyana, things have gone too far. Thanks to cyber technology, guests scattered throughout the globe can now virtually attend East Yorkshire weddings. They may not be able to catch the bride's bouquet or do the twist with great aunt Mabel, but they will be able to watch and weep.

So ladies and gentlemen, charge your glasses: a toast, to East Riding of Yorkshire Council, pioneers of nuptials on the net.

Updated: 10:50 Friday, August 01, 2003