A COUPLE are thought to have made cyber history when their wedding was beamed live from Australia to family back in the UK.

Lindsey Buckle, 31, was devastated when her grandparents and sister were unable to travel Down Under to see her tie the knot.

So her husband's best man and brother set about setting up a live webcast to make sure her family didn't miss a second.

Telstra, the Australian equivalent of BT, said it is the first time it has been done.

Lindsey's mother Alison, 52, said: "Her grandparents, her sister and her friends were absolutely delighted by it.

"They said it did make them feel as if they were part of the day."

Glass of champagne in hand, her grandparents and sister settled down in front of a computer to see her walk down the aisle 10,000 miles away in Australia.

They were unable to be there in person, but watching online - in what is believed to be the world's first wedding webcast - was the next best thing.

Lindsey knew nothing of the plan to broadcast her wedding until a friend in York let it slip, telling her she was setting her alarm for 5.45am to see it.

It was a surprise organised by her Aussie husband Toby Clewett's brother and best man, Andrei.

An IT specialist, he set up a special website and then had a video camera stream the nuptials around the world for everyone to see.

He said: "We didn't know whether we could do it or not, so being able to pull it off was pretty cool."

The couple were married on August 3, at picturesque Point Cartwright, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, just before sunset.

Lindsey's parents, Alison, 52, and Chris, 55, from Washington, were able to make it, but sister Clare McCartney, 28, was heavily pregnant.

She and her husband Alan, 27, were among those gathered at her great aunt Betty Taylor's house in South Shields, on the big day.

Mrs McCartney, who lives in Newcastle, said: "It was very emotional and lovely to watch."

Grandparents Colin and Irene Buckle, from Dulverton Avenue, South Shields, and Joan and Derek Aynsley, both 75, from Braemar Drive, South Shields, were also there.

Mr Buckle, 80, who was unable to travel due to ill health, said: "We had to be up at 5.30am, but it was worth it."