TWO brides from the same small street in York toasted each other before setting off to get married on the same day as each other.

Nuptial anticipation filled the sunny Saturday air in Skelton as brides-to-be Victoria Owen-Stanford and Heather Stanley made their final preparations for their big days.

The two women, who live three doors away from one another, discovered they were tying the knot on the same day when they booked their wedding cars.

Both chose Daimlers from M&J Walker Chauffeur Driven Cars, just round the corner in Skelton.

Mervyn Walker said: "This is an absolute first for us and it's also very convenient!"

Victoria, 23, who has just finished studying at York Law College, grew up in Skelton.

She married Christian Edwards, who she met at Huddersfield University, at St Philip and St James Church in Clifton, with a reception at the Royal York Hotel afterwards.

Heather, 28, originally from Middlesbrough, has lived in the street for two years, and married Paul Lewis at the Hilton Hotel in York, formerly the Stakis.

She has three daughters, Shannon, eight, Brogan, six, and baby Vanessa, 17 months, and the elder two were bridesmaids.

Aside from their neighbourly connections, the two brides also had guests arriving from around the world, including their bridesmaids.

Heather's childhood friend, Jackie Ayres, travelled from Bermuda, and Victoria's student friend from Italy, Vittoria De-Nicola also made the journey to Park Close.

But one of Heather's youngest bridesmaids was another neighbour, Jessica Luck, nine.

PICTURE - Brides Victoria Owen-Stamford, left, and Heather Stanley, who both live in the same street, were married on the same day and used the same wedding car company are seen with chauffeur Melvyn Walker of M&J Walker Chauffer Driven Cars

Pictures: Steven Bradshaw and Richard Doughty