A COUPLE who met as children following a mercy mission to Romania are to marry.

Alex Smith, 23, from Weymouth and Romanian Cristina Somefan, 19, will exchange vows at Weymouth Baptist Church on August 18.

But the chain of events leading up to their marriage can be traced back to 1990 when volunteers from Weymouth went on an aid mission to Romania.

The former communist country was in the throes of a political revolution and volunteers from across Dorset sent lorry-loads of aid to help the suffering population.

Cristina was a child living with her family in the city of Oradea when the first convoy of aid arrived from the UK.

She said: "My parents received a Christmas package from Weymouth and inside it had a letter saying Happy Christmas'.

"My parents replied and struck up a very close friendship with the people who had sent it."

The letter had been sent by church members June Rees and her husband Gareth who, like many in Weymouth, had seen the plight of the Romanians on TV and had been moved to help.

"They struck up a friendship and in 1994 I came to Weymouth with my parents." It was at a garden party that she met Alex.

Alex said: "I was a member of the church and we met in June's garden soon after she came over.

"It sounds a bit corny but when she came back a few years later it was like love at first sight."

As a teenager Cristina started coming to Weymouth to work in the summer months.

"I was shy but kept in touch with Alex via the email when I went home. I loved his blue eyes and personality."

As their friendship grew so did the ties between Weymouth and Oradea.

The Baptist Church began supporting the Emanuel Hospice in 1990.

Thanks to donations, the hospice, which cares for 150 dying adults and children a year, has been refurbished and nurses kept employed.

The friendship between Cristina and Alex blossomed into love and Alex proposed last September.

The newlyweds will live in Weymouth but could move to Romania in the long term.

Cristina said: "There are a few differences between Weymouth and Oradea. I love the people here and the place itself but I would say that people back home are a bit more relaxed.

"One thing I notice is that people here plan things way ahead where in Romania they just do things when they feel it's the right time."

The wedding will be a real family affair with Cristina expecting 20 relatives to arrive. In the meantime she will continue studying for a diploma in childcare and education at Weymouth College.

John Felstead, from Preston, drove a lorry on the first mercy mission to Romania in February, 1990.

He said: "I actually delivered the message which ended up bringing the pair of them together.

"It's funny to think that all these years later they are getting married thanks to that one message of happy Christmas."