MADCAP groom Robert Hill did away with the traditional Rolls Royce for his wedding on Saturday and arrived at the church in a builder's skip.

The 23-year-old, from Winchester Walk, Hartlepool, travelled in style to St Oswald's Church for his wedding to Joanne Liddle.

Following a family tradition, Robert, a private with the Green Howards, climbed into the skip with his best man, ushers and friends at Hartlepool's Whitehouse pub for the journey to the church.

The travel arrangements were first employed by Robert's uncle.

Robert said: "It's a family thing. It was my uncle's idea. He didn't want to walk to the church when he got married.

"The church was only 50 metres away so he ended up getting in his mam's skip. I was in there with him at the time and I thought: 'I'm going to do that'."

Robert's father, Ronnie, said: "There was quite a crowd outside the church wanting to catch a glimpse of Robert and his friends in the skip."

Robert ensured the skip, from Baxketh scrap metal merchants, was clean and freshly-painted before he climbed aboard.

Meanwhile, Joanne, 29, of Middleton Walk, employed a more traditional form of transport.

She hired a cream classic car which was big enough to carry eight bridesmaids, three page boys and herself to the ceremony.

She said: "Nothing is conventional with Robert.

"There have been a lot of jokes at our expense, but the skip just makes the wedding even more personal for Robert.