WHEN bridegroom Craig Ewen went out the night before his wedding, he thought he was in for just a few quiet drinks with the lads.

But Craig's mates made sure the evening was one for him to remember when they stripped him naked and left him handcuffed to the central reservation railings at the bottom of Lawrence Street, in York.

It will probably be a sight that many motorists will not forget either, as Craig was abandoned by his friends for at least half-an- hour to shiver at the Walmgate Bar junction, where drivers beeped and laughed at him as they passed last night.

Craig, from Walmgate, was eventually rescued by a passing police officer who cut through the chains and allowed Craig to rejoin his friends, who were enjoying a drink in the nearby Rose and Crown pub.

Craig, who married his long-term girlfriend Emma Wheeler at York Register Office this afternoon, said: "We were walking across the road and the next minute they all jumped on me and took all my clothes off except my socks and chained me to the railings."

The mastermind behind the plan was Shaun Wrightson who admitted it had actually been an act of revenge.

"He stripped me naked on my stag night three years ago in the middle of town," he said,

"I couldn't go to his stag night in Blackpool so I waited until last night.

"We just left him and all the people in the pub kept going out to have a look at him, even the bar staff."

Shaun and his own wife Emma were joining the happy couple at their wedding today, and at their reception afterwards at the Riverside Farm at Skelton.

PICTURE: Craig Ewan, left, who was left handcuffed to traffic island railings in York by friends, among them Shaun Wrightson, right, while Craig was out drinking in York (David Harrison)