BRIDE and groom Nicola and Nathan Bradley abandoned the idea of a limousine or a horse-drawn cart and instead strolled through the packed streets of York to get to their wedding reception.

The couple, who were married in All Saints' Church, Pavement, on Saturday, were undeterred by the stares of shoppers as they walked the 800 yards to their wedding reception at Kennedy's Caf Bar, in Stonegate.

The couple and their invited guests had trouble getting parking spaces at the city centre church, so thought it would be easier to take to their feet to start their afternoon and evening celebrations at the wine bar.

This gave the shoppers a treat, as several passers-by stopped to applaud the happy couple as they smiled and held hands for the romantic walk along Parliament Street. Nicola, 21, and Nathan, 24, live at the Three Cranes pub in St Sampson's Square, where Nathan is the manager, and have been together for three years.

Nicola's mum, Jane Robson, of Navigation Road, said: "It was a really lovely day. Very romantic."

The happy pair jet off to Tenerife tomorrow for their honeymoon.

Updated: 11:17 Monday, September 10, 2001