AN ACT of kindness led to love for a North-East haulier and his Romanian bride.

John Troup, of Trimdon Grange, County Durham, married Florentina Toroican in the village on Saturday.

The wedding had a distinctly Romanian feel, with some of the service read in Florentina's native tongue and members of her family in the congregation.

She wore traditional Romanian bridal wear, such as a hat and veil.

John's father, Bill Troup, began trading with Romania more than ten years ago, when he started exporting second-hand tractors. But he also filled his lorries with aid for the country. This connection led to a chance meeting two years ago with Florentina's father, whose vehicle had broken down at a service station at Bowburn.

The Troup family helped the driver so he could make his way home.

Months later, John was in a truck stop in Manchester when he met Florentina's father again. John found himself talking to Florentina on her father's phone.

Bill said: "She is an English student and was asking where her father could find phrase books to take back to her."

John met Florentina while working in Romania shortly afterwards, and the rest is history.