NEWLYWEDS are spending their honeymoon at an ape rescue centre, after bringing a taste of Scotland to their highland-themed wedding.

Kirsty Houlihan, 25, married her partner Christopher Chester, 26, on Saturday, at St Aidan's Church, in Chilton. The couple are on honeymoon at Monkey World, in Dorset.

Their wedding received attention from locals, when pipers from Aycliffe Pipe Band marched through the village centre, along with six members of the wedding party and four guests wearing traditional Scottish kilts on their way to the church.

A family friend, who is a piper, travelled down from Lanarkshire for the wedding. The bride lives in Chilton with her fiance and four-year-old daughter, Erin-Lee.

Her family moved to County Durham from Coatbridge, in Lanarkshire, 30 years ago and are still very proud of their Scottish roots.

Before the service, father of the bride, James Houlihan, 53, said his daughter wanted something traditional for her wedding.

"Obviously, we have been in Durham for a while now, but I am very pleased that she wanted a Scottish theme at her wedding, I'm sure I will be crying my eyes out very soon and I am extremely proud of my daughter and wish her lots of happiness."

A Chilton resident, who saw the march, said: "It was a really nice thing to watch, it's a bit different from normal weddings around here."

The reception was held at Ferryhill Leisure Centre.