A YOUNG couple marrying on Teesside today are living proof that love conquers all.

The bridegroom, Jamie Hood, is paralysed from his neck down. His South African bride, Jan Lloyd, gave up her home, job and career prospects to stay at his side.

The couple met in a bar in South Africa, months before they were involved in a crash on a winding coast road above Capetown.

Jan escaped shocked but unscathed, but Jamie was paralysed and unconscious, his neck broken. Earlier voted the Daily Telegraph most promising young cricketer, Jamie was left helpless and dependent.

He was put on a hospital plane back to Britain and Jan followed.

Back in the UK, and on a life support machine in Wakefield's Pinderfields Hospital, Jamie, who was unable to speak, mouthed his marriage proposal to Jan. She said yes, without hesitation.

As he looked forward to their wedding at the small village church at Kirkleatham, near Redcar, today, Jamie told The Northern Echo: "I knew she was the one for me a couple of months before the accident, and I asked her if she wanted to come back to England.

"We were just really close, just felt it was the right time. She is a lovely girl. But we are both strong.''

He said the dream of marrying Jan was a goal to work for.

Jamie said: "I have been positive from the start and never been down - there is always someone worse off. I saw people with worse injuries than me and some who gave up.

"But I am just a positive sort of person. I take every day as it comes and enjoy it. You never know what life has for you around the corner.