QUICK-THINKING friends and some helpful Army soldiers ensured a bride and groom got to their wedding on time.

Kayleigh Quartermaine and David Wallis from Portland were panicking on Saturday morning when the beach road was closed as they feared they wouldn’t be able to get to Weymouth Register Office on time for their wedding.

Thanks to Kayleigh’s friend Tina Jacob who rushed to Chiswell to alert authorities to the couple’s dilemma, the couple were transported across the flooded beach road in an Army lorry before the road closure was officially lifted.

Friends were able to pick them up at the other end.

Another all-terrain vehicle ferried some friends and relatives across to join the happy couple.

The road closure was lifted shortly afterwards with a contraflow system in place for a time but long queues meant there were delays for people coming off the island.

Kayleigh, 26, said: “We were stuck and had no means to get to Weymouth. I was panicking and in a flap and was ready to call it all off. Tina said to me: “That’s not going to happen, you’re going to get married” and went down to see what she could do.

“I couldn’t believe it when she said they were going to get us across.”

Tina said she told a policeman about the situation and asked if the Army could help and transport was happily arranged.

Kayleigh and David, 41, who have two sons, Jaydn, three, and Harvey, seven months, were married at noon and later enjoyed a reception at Wellworthy Social Club in Wyke Regis.

Kayleigh said: “Apart from getting over it went off smoothly.

“Tina was brilliant and I’d like to thank her as well as the Army for getting us across.

“It was definitely a wedding to remember and that’s an added touch to the day’s events.”