A GULF WAR soldier married his North-East sweetheart on Saturday in a carefully-timed ceremony.

Section Commander William McSeveney, originally from Glasgow, serving with the First Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, married Lisa Perring at Darlington Register Office on Saturday.

Mr McSeveney only returned from serving in Iraq in November, and the wedding was arranged over the last couple of months, with the help of registrar Dawn Whitear.

Mr McSeveney, 31, is being posted to Northern Ireland at the end of January and it is a requirement as a member of the armed forces that the couple are married for 28 days before this posting in order to go together.

During his four months in Iraq, Mr McSeveney had been patrolling in Basra. It was the second time he had served in Iraq, as a veteran of the Gulf War in 1991.

He said: "It was great to get back from Iraq. It has been really hectic, with Christmas and then the wedding, but it's been worth it, it has been a lovely day."

Ms Perring, 29, from Cockerton, was attended by her nine-year-old daughter Alex, as bridesmaid and her son Thomas, two, as page boy.

She said: "I was worried about him while he was away, so it's great to have him back and we're all really looking forward to going to Northern Ireland."

The reception was at Maxine's restaurant, Grange Hotel, Darlington.