Brave John Holden is to tie the knot after finding love at university.

John, 23, almost died when he was struck down by meningitis in l998 and eventually lost both his legs. But he has rebuilt his life and describes meeting his fiance Louise Jardine as "the icing on the cake".

John, from Blaydon, Tyne and Wear, was hit by meningitis just weeks after starting at Salford University, Manchester.

Determined to build a future for himself, he enrolled on a Spanish and French degree course at Northumbria University, where he met Louise, also 23.

Louise said: "John is a real inspiration and has shown a lot of courage."

The couple intend to set a wedding date when they graduate this summer.