THE sight of a 22-year-old woman tied to a lamppost is guaranteed to turn heads.

That is just what happened when workmates played a pre-wedding joke on secretary Melanie Close.

Staff at A1 Windscreens in Northgate, Darlington, tied Melanie up with tape to a lamppost yesterday. They then took turns writing on her face and invited people to pay 5p to throw a bucket of water over her.

Luckily, Melanie took it in good heart despite the fact the joke brought traffic to a standstill in North Road.

Keith Flowers, director of A1 Windscreens, said: "I think we nearly caused a few accidents because everyone was stopping to have a look. Melanie is a nice girl and she took it very well."

Melanie, who gets married to her fiance Mark at St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington, on August 27, said: "I have just about dried out now and I still can't believe what they did.