BIG-HEARTED Evening Press readers have pledged generous amounts of cash to ensure a terminally-ill bridegroom's wedding is not ruined by heartless thieves.

The couple have also received a boost from a professional photographer, who has offered to take them some wedding shots - absolutely free.

As reported in Saturday's Evening Press, cancer sufferer Michael Kwiatkowski and fiancee Alana Phillips had £1,000 wedding cash stolen from Michael's Acomb home.

They feared it would ruin plans for their wedding on Thursday, as Michael has been given just six months to live.

But since the couple's agony was reported, readers have been in touch to say they would like to help out.

One Woodthorpe couple, who asked not to be named, have offered £250.

One said: "It's so sad this lad nearly didn't get his last wish. We've been through the mill ourselves before and know what it's like."

Another couple from Escrick, who also asked to remain anonymous, offered £100.

One said: "Michael has not had a lot of luck in life - making a donation felt the right thing to do."

Photographer John Ebbs, of Pocklington-based Minster Photographic, said: "I just thought it was a real shame what happened to them and wanted to do something to help.

"He was having a rough enough time of it already without someone stealing his wedding money," said John, who has been taking wedding photos for 43 years.

Michael, who lives in Lindsey Avenue, said today: "It is all totally brilliant, the way people have offered to help us.

"We were both so gutted after the burglary. We said we would make sure the wedding went ahead but we didn't know how we would do it.

"This will make things a lot easier for us. Thanks very much to everyone."

Michael, 31, is suffering from a teratoma. It is a form of cancer that often attacks the testicles but can spread to other parts of the body.

He is being treated by specialists at the Cookridge Hospital in Leeds, but has been told the condition is terminal.

Updated: 08:58 Tuesday, March 12, 2002